DISTRIBUTION OF THE HEATHER. 



distribution, hardiness and other characteristics of the 

 Heather, which, it will be observed, is here dealt with 

 under the name of Ling: 



"The common Ling may be traced in an unbroken 

 range from the plains up to a height of 2,450 me- 

 ters on the slopes of the Alps. Strange to say, these 

 plants do not blossom much earlier on the lowlands 

 than on the high Alpine regions, and it has actually 

 been shown that Calluna blooms rather sooner at a 

 height of 2,000 meters than in the northern portion 

 of the Baltic lowlands. How is this? The winter 

 snow has long disappeared from the lowlands, while 

 the hillsides above are yet concealed under their cold, 

 white covering. The winter snow has gone, to be 

 sure, but not the winter. While everything around 

 is already in blossom, while the ear is already visible 

 on the stalks of rye, the neighboring moor is still a 

 dismal waste, and lifeless a month or so later; there 

 is a stir on the dry soil of the cold moor, and the ab- 

 sorbent roots of the plants, which have evergreen 

 rolled leaves, commence their activity. When the warm 

 days of midsummer arrive, and the sun sends down 

 its powerful rays, the temperature of the soil quickly 

 increases, and, indeed, rises far more than would be 

 thought possible. A thermometer placed three cms. 

 below the surface in the uppermost mossy layer of 

 a moor, on a cloudless summer day (June 22) showed 

 a temperature of 31, while the temperature of the 

 air in the shade was 13 degrees. An unpleasant va- 

 por arises from the damp earth, which settles on the 

 surface, and makes a walk over the moor particularly 

 disagreeable. Scarcely has the sun set in glowing 



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