TORNEAé 131 



Vatlon of the ground, which ought to be 

 carefully observed. Hence the plants of 

 the north of Lapland are such only as are 

 capable of resisting the most severe and 

 long-'continued cold, and hence snow lies 

 on the alps of Italy. 



Alpine plants are, for the most part, 

 perennial, except the Little Blue Centaury 

 {Gentiana nivuUs), and perhaps the Single- 

 flowered Lychnis {apetala). I wish bota- 

 nists would endeavour to discover and make 

 known any new kinds of pulse or grain, es- 

 pecially such as are of a hardy constitution, 

 and not likely to suffer from the severity of 

 winter. Some are perhaps to be found 

 among the grasses. It is necessary to as- 

 certain what degree of northern latitude 

 they would bear, and whether they are ca- 

 pable of growing within the frigid zone. 

 It is worthy of inquiry in what respects 

 the Alps, properly so called (of Switzer- 

 land,) agree with ours of Lapland, as well 

 as how far, and by what means, they are 

 susceptible of culture. The descriptions 



