ALPINE FLOWER-FIELDS 17 



Alps — the region in wliich so well-found a place 

 as Lac Champex is situated. 



And what a wondrous region it is, this which 

 is of sufficient altitude for Nature to be tin-own 

 right out of what, in the plains, is her normal habit ; 

 where the Cherry-tree, if planted, blooms only 

 about the middle of June ; where the Eglantine 

 is in full splendour in the middle of July and can 

 be gathered well into August ; where the black- 

 bird is still piping at the end of July ; where the 

 wild Laburnum is in blossom in August ; and 

 where quantities of ripe fruit of the wild Currant, 

 Raspberry, and Strawberry may be picked in 

 September. 



And Champex, too, what a ftivoured and beauti- 

 ful place ! I have chosen this particular spot as 

 the " base of operations," because of its variety in 

 physical aspect, and, consequently, its variety in 

 flowers. This plan I have deemed of more use 

 than to wander from place to place, and I think 

 that, on the whole, it will be fair to the Swiss 

 Alpine field-flora. We can take note from time 

 to time of what is not to be found here ; for, of 

 course, Champex does not possess all the varieties 

 of Alpine field-flowers. Liliuui croceum, Aiiemotie 

 alpina, Narcin.ntii poeticus, and the Daffodil are, 



