CLIMATE AAD FLORA OF KAN-SU. 77 



twenty-two rainy days in July, twenty-seven in 

 August, and twenty-three in September ; of the 

 latter number twelve were snowy ; from September 

 28, it snowed frequently. Owing to the heavy 

 rainfall the soil is very moist, nearly every ravine 

 having its stream. The temperature in summer is 

 low, if it be remembered that this region lies in the 

 thirty-eighth parallel. Even in July the greater 

 heiohts were covered with hoarfrost ; in Au<just thick 

 flakes of snow fell, thawino^, however, duringf the 

 daytime, and after the beginning of September the 

 snow remained on the grround. 



The heat in summer was never oppressive, the 

 highest temperature registered in July being 88° 

 Fahr. in the shade. Light winds prevailed from 

 the SE., and thunderstorms were most frequent in 

 July and September, in the latter month accom- 

 panied by snow and hail. 



The flora is rich and varied, as one would have 

 expected from the moisture and richness of the soil, 

 and the other favourable conditions for its develop- 

 ment. Forests, however, in our sense of the word, 

 only grow on the northern slopes of the southern 

 range : a circumstance deserving of notice, because 

 in these mountains arboreal vegetation has not to 

 contend with the disadvantages of an arid climate as 

 in the mountains of Mongolia. Even in this moist 

 atmosphere trees apparently avoid the sun, which 

 certainly does not make its presence often felt 

 during the summer. As usual, the lower zones are 

 the most thickly wooded, from the bottom of the 



