

CHAPTER L 



Alpine Flowers at Home in Switzerland. 



To the Englishman, and, indeed, it might with equal 

 truth be said to the American also, the Alps of Switzer- 

 land and Italy, represent his Paradise for Alpine 

 flowers. The Pyrenees possess a rich mountain flora, 

 and the same may be said for many another highland 

 of Europe. It is, however, to the Bernese Oberland, 

 the Valais and the passes leading from Switzerland to 

 Italy, that we naturally turn in thought when we wish 

 to recall those halcyon days when we saw the flora 

 of the mountains in its most perfect beauty. 



And so the writer will ask the reader to accompany 

 him on a typical day's excursion among the Alpine 

 pastures about Evolena, in the Valais, from whence 

 we shall climb to the summit of the Pic d'Arzinol, 

 close upon 10,000 feet above sea level. 



We start by following the narrow path through 

 meadows, down to the raging torrent, which is carrying 

 its grey waters from the glaciers to swell the swirUng 

 Rhone in the wide valley below ; and then ascend 

 through some meadows till we reach the shade of the 

 dark pines. 



Swiss meadows are not like those of England — here 

 at home their chief product is grass, there it is flowers. 



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