ALPINE FLOWER-FIELDS 13 



not mean merely the snow-clad summit of some 

 important mountain. Nor does "Alpine" mean 

 that region of a mountain which is above the 

 tree-limit. 



Strictly, then, Alpine circumstance is circum- 

 stance surrounding the mountain pasturages, 

 whether these latter be known popularly as Alpine 

 or as sub- Alpine. To the popular mind— to-day 

 to a great extent amongst even the Swiss them- 

 selves — Alpine heights at once suggest what Mr. 

 E. F. Benson calls " white altitudes " ; but that 

 should not be the suggestion conveyed here. For 

 present purposes it should be clearly understood 

 that the term " Alpine pastures " is used in its 

 old, embracive sense, and that sub- Alpine pastures 

 are included and, indeed, predominate. 



Of course, we may be obliged to bow occa- 

 sionally to a custom that has so obliterated 

 original meanings, or we shall risk becoming un- 

 intelligible ; we may from time to time be obliged 

 to use the word " sub- Alpine " for the lower sphere 

 in Alpine circumstance (although, really and truly, 

 the word should suggest circumstance removed 

 from off the Alps — circumstance purely and simply 

 of the plains). We shall therefore do well to 

 accept the definition of " sub- Alpine " given by 



