143 



higher calorification of the surface of the soil the lower stra- 

 tum of air is in the first place warmed, and then the imme- 

 diately subjacent surface of the soil ; and, as observation shows, 

 the whole vegetation on Nova Zembla occurs in these two small 

 regions. Only very short roots descend into the earth, and 

 the longer roots run just beneath the surface. In general they 

 proceed almost horizontally and form with the stem a right 

 angle. The giant of the shrubs of Nova Zembla is Salix la- 

 nata ; it grows to about a span high, while the roots, orperhaps 

 more correctly the subterraneous stem, is about an inch thick, 

 and was laid bare for the length of from 10 to 12 feet with- 

 out exhibiting the termination. On account of the slight 

 warmth of the air, which, properly speaking, is restricted 

 merely to the lowest stratum, the plants there grow to a height 

 of from 2 3 inches, those of from 4 5 are much less fre- 

 quent, and those of 6 inches very rare. Salioo Brayi seems to 

 show very distinctly that the air at the height of 8 inches does 

 not contain sufficient warmth for it to develop a bud. 



We are also indebted to M. v. Baer for similar interesting 

 observations on the vegetation at various spots of the coasts 

 of the White Sea*, which exhibit the greatest coincidence with 

 those of Lapland, with which we are so accurately acquainted. 

 On the east coast of the White Sea in 65 20' northern lati- 

 tude the declivities of the Winter Mountains were richly 

 clothed with trees and shrubs, and abounded in luxuriant 

 Pteonies (P. intermedia, Meyer,), Aconites, Rosa spinosissima, 

 Hedysarum neglectum, Polemonium cceruleum ; but in heights 

 of from 150 to 200 feet the northern character again returned 

 in all its force. On the south coasts of Lapland (66 10' north 

 lat.) the vegetation was very different from the one just de- 

 scribed. Here the plains were covered with lichens and 

 mosses, interspersed with Rubus Chamcemorus and Vaccinium 

 uliginosum. In 67 lat. M. v. Baer found patches of Diapen- 

 sia Lapponica, Arbutus alpina, Azalea procumbens, Empetrum 

 nigrum, and heath forming extensive turfs. However in the 

 neighbourhood of the coasts there are still some patches of 

 arboreal vegetation to be seen. There is no corn cultivated 

 in these districts. 



* Bullet, scientif. de 1'Acad. de St. Petersbourg, ii. p. 132144. 



