180 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



regions, wliich we call, for that reason, the region of vineyards. The 

 trees which are cultivated there, the mulberry, peach, apricot, and 

 even the fig in the warmest places, are all exotic. All fruits of the 

 temperate zone, however, succeed there perfectly well, and among the 

 wild trees and shrubs which characterize this zone, we find especially 

 Rubus : Rubus corylifolius, Rubus fruticosus i., Rubus tomentosus 

 W. ; some Roses : Rosa pimpinellifoha L., Rosa eglanteriai., Rosa 

 alba L. ; the Pyrus communis L., the Crataegus torminalis L., Mes- 

 pilus germanica L., and Mespilus eriocarpa DO. The most common 

 ornamental shrubs which are cultivated there on level ground, are 

 the Philadelphus coronarius and the Lilac, which we find as far as the 

 lower valleys of the Jura. This zone is almost entirely cultivated, 

 and has few indigenous trees. We meet now and then with forests 

 of oak trees (Quercus Robur Z.,) and of chestnut trees (Castanea 

 vesca).* 



Immediately above this horizon, at an elevation of some hundred 

 feet higher, from 1600 to 1700 feet begins the zone of oaks, which 

 ascends somewhat into the valleys. The two species of this genus, 

 the Quercus Robur L., and the Quercus sessiliflora Sm., grow in 

 the same places ; the latter ascends, however, a little higher, and 

 occurs but very thinly, it is true, in the Val de Ruz, and in the 

 Val de Travers. On the slopes of the Alps it ascends 1,500 feet 

 higher, especially in sheltered valleys. The shrubs and trees which 

 follow these are not numerous, (for the vegetation of the oak 

 forests, like thaj of the pine trees, excludes other trees ;) they are 

 the hedge-plants, which are found as far as the region of the pines, 

 (Viburnum Opulus L. et Viburnum Lantana i.) ; the yew, (Taxus 

 baccata i>.) ; the box-tree, (Buxus sempervirens i.) ; the hornbeam, 

 (Carpinus betulus X.,) very rare ; the alder, (Alnus glutinosa 

 Crcertn.^ At the margins of the brooks, some briars, the honeysuckle, 

 (Lonicera Caprifolium,) cultivated ; the buckthorn, (Rhamnus ca- 

 tharticus L.') ; the holly, (Rex Aquifolium). The fruit trees culti- 

 vated with the greatest success in this zone, are the walnut, the 

 apple, the pear, &c. 



* Along the margin of the lakes grow the Populus nigra and several species of willows, 

 which are characteristic, but have no direct affinity with the localities in which they 

 occur. The Clematis Vitalba, on the contrarj', attaches itself to the trees of the region 

 of the Tines and oak trees, but never ascends higher. 



