are shoulder-high, those that are knee-high, and at last he 

 remarks at finding himself walking upon the crowns of trees 

 which lie prostrate beneath his feet upon the higher slopes. 

 This diminution in size, with the increased altitude, is accom- 

 panied by a no less marked effect on form. The scrubby, 

 scraggly, gnarled, knotted, and twisted character of the trees is 

 most striking. To this condition of morphological modification 

 the Germans have applied the term Krummholz. The Krum- 

 mholz covers the north basin, the higher slopes, and a greater 

 part of the "tableland" and "saddle," extending far up toward 

 the North and South peaks. (Figs. 2, 3). Its gnarled, scraggy, 

 and interlacing branches make it an almost impenetrable mass. 



So closely wind trimmed is this growth of spruce and fir that 

 its surface presents an almost level green. If one approaches 

 the "saddle" from the east slope a much different impression is 

 conveyed than if his first view is obtained from the west. If 

 viewed from the east a striking condition presents itself. 

 Residual granitic soil, bare rocks and boulders, the alpine mat, 

 prostrate firs and spruces, and the Krummholz in receding suc- 

 cession from the brow of the slope confront one. (Fig. 4). 

 Passing back into the Krummholz these much dwarfed trees 

 gradually attain a greater height, ascending gently to the leeward 

 until at the west bow of the saddle they reach about one-fifth 

 their normal height. 



This gradual and successive extension in height is due to the 

 increased protection afforded by each succeeding tree, the inclined 

 plane rising to the leeward. But if, on the other hand, the 

 approach is from the west, (Fig. 4) not this heath-like condition, 

 but a diminutive forest confronts one, and he is not aware that 

 conditions other than those exist upon the saddle. 



If attention is now focussed upon a single tree far to the wind- 

 ward, the direct effects of the wind become still more obvious. 

 The very general inclination of the crowns to the leeward shows 

 strongly their tendency to conform to the direction of the prevail- 

 ing wind. In extreme cases the entire crown is to the leeward 

 of the trunk which may itself be inclined at no gentle angle, in 

 many cases lying even prostrate. The straggling nature of the 



