JUNE IN THE ALPS 29 



with their beautiful flora, quite distinct as a whole 

 from that of the pastures, are ripe for the scythe, 

 though as yet uncut. Once the meadows have 

 yielded their first crop of hay, which is usually the 

 case early in July, or even in June, one of the great 

 floral beauties of the Alpine valleys has for a time 

 departed. By the end of July, and in early August, 

 though a few summer plants such as the Pinks are 

 now in flower, the height of the flowering season is 

 over. 



A good illustration is furnished by the Riff'elberg, 

 above Zermatt, which is almost entirely bare of 

 blossom by the end of July, when the annual stream 

 of summer visitors commences. Yet in June it is 

 famous as possessing one of the richest and most 

 varied floras in the Alps, and especially for certain 

 plants which are rare elsewhere. On the other hand, 

 the High Alpine region of the Gorner Grat (3,000 feet 

 above the Eiff'elalp) is often by the end of July nearly 

 free from snow, and furnishes an excellent collecting 

 ground rich in the dwarf plants of the High Alpine 

 zone. 



It is perhaps unnecessary to add that everything 

 is in the favour of a visitor in early summer. Greater 

 comfort in travelling and in hotels, as well as less 

 intense midday temperature, contribute to the enjoy- 

 ment of '' the season " for Alpine plants. 



One of the great peculiarities of the Alpine flora 

 is the tendency to "rush into flower" at the earliest 

 possible moment in spring-time. With us in Britain, 



