CLIMATE. 19 



The birch is the most northerly of all our European 

 forest trees. It grows upon the shores of the Frozen 

 Sea. It is the only "tree in Greenland and Iceland, and it 

 flourishes in the Bast, all over Siberia, and even in Kamt- 

 ' schatka. It grows higher up on the fells than any other 

 tree, and in 66 north lat., at an elevation of 2000 feet above 

 the sea. Where no other tree can grow, the birch reaches 

 the height of a man. About 400 feet higher than this, how- 

 ever, some few bushes are met with, and the black stalks 

 of the dwarf birch (B. Nana) gradually dwindle to a creeper. 

 The cloud berry ripens at this elevation, but no higher. 

 And the glutton is met with even in these wild districts far 

 higher up than the bear. After this all bushes cease to grow, 

 and the ground is covered only with a brown fell vegetation 

 of lichen and mosses. The only berry that can ripen among 

 the lichen is the crow berry (Empetrum nigrum) . The Laps 

 never pitch their tents higher than about 800 feet below the 

 perpetual snow region. 



To say nothing of the beauty which the clear green 

 leaves in summer and the silvery stem of the birch in 

 winter add to the northern forest landscape, perhaps 

 there is no tree more useful to the inhabitants of the 

 north. For implements, building, and even for furniture, 

 it is greatly in request, and the outer bark, which is easily 

 stripped off in the spring, is used for a variety of purposes, 

 from thatching houses down to soling of shoes. And 

 no sole is so warm, or stands better against the snow, than 

 this. They are called "Nafver," and are sold in little 

 bundles of sixty strips for three rqr. They have one pecu- 

 liarity that of never rotting. The birch bark, rolled up, 

 or even oblong pieces of fir bark, are much used here for 

 floating nets instead of corks. 



Sallow, willow, and mountain ash, grow freely on both 

 sides of the Tornea Eiver, far within the polar circle. The 

 alder is met with as far north as 63 ; the ash up to 62 ; 

 elm, hazel, and linden up to 61 north lat. 



Oats cease to ripen above 64 ; barley ripens as high as 

 67 north lat. 



