Scene in the Eocky Mountains. 



MOUNTAIN VEGETATION IN AMEKICA. 



THE passage of the great American desert which is crossed on 

 the way from New York to San Francisco is, perhaps, the best 

 preparation one could have for the startling verdure and giant 

 tree-life of the Sierras. Dust, dreariness, alkali the earth 

 looking as if sprinkled with salt; here and there a few tufts 

 of brown grass in favoured places ; but generally nothing better 

 than starved wormwood, that seems afraid to put forth more 

 than a few small, grey leaves, represents the vegetable kingdom 

 in the plains of the desert region. Where the arid hills 

 showing horizontal lines worn by the waves of long-dried seas 

 - are visible, a few thin tufts of alders and poplars mark their 

 hollows ; while willows fringe the streams of undrinkable water 

 which course through the valleys. A better idea of the country 

 can scarcely be had than by imagining an ash-pit several hun- 

 dred miles across, in which a few light-grey weeds, scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable from the parched earth, have sprung up. 



As the train ascends the Sierra, it passes through dark- 

 ribbed tunnels of long covered sheds, which guard it from the 

 snow in winter. Dawn broke upon us as we were passing 

 through these ; and, looking out, dust, alkali, dreariness, harsh- 



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