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AN ALPINE BOTANICAL GARDEN 



In a recent article published in the Revue Philomathique de 

 Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest, M. Henri Devaux describes most 

 interestingly the Alpine Botanic Garden of the University of 

 Lausanne. This Garden was founded a few years ago by Pro- 

 fessor Wilczek at Pont-de-Nant which is situated at the entrance 

 of the Canton du Vallais, some two hours' drive up from Bex at 

 an altitude of 1,300 meters, surrounded by peaks and glaciers 

 ranging from 2,500 to 2,900 meters. It is in a narrow valley 

 protected from the east, west and north winds, but receives from 

 the south the "Thalwind," a strong current of glacial air from 

 the surrounding peaks, which united with the intense humidity 

 combines to make climatic conditions favorable to the cultivation 

 and growth of the vegetation of a much higher altitude and 

 where such plants as Campanula Cenisia (2,600 m.), Viola Ceni- 

 sia (2,000 m.), Crepis pygmaea (2,400 m.), and Geum rep tans 

 (2,500 m.) thrive. A small brook traverses the garden which 

 with the intensely heavy dew of that high altitude is sufficient 

 for the watering of the plants. 



After many attempts Prof. Wilczek gave up the systematic 

 arrangement of the classification of the plants growing in the 

 Garden and resolved to form "physiological associations" resem- 

 bling as closely as possible the biological and geographical 

 groups found in nature. A Salicetum has been started ; a collec- 

 tion of alpine willows with which have been planted those her- 

 baceous plants that are grouped with them in a wild state. An 

 alpine meadow brings together Gramineae, Pedicularis, and their 

 associates. In a wood and along the brook have been cultivated 

 such plants as Lonicera, Ribes, Maples, Ericaceae, Rnbus, Prenan- 

 thes, Dentaria, Lycopodinm, Selaginella and a multitude of ferns 

 as well as various kinds of shade-loving Orchids, Listera, Coral- 

 larhiza, Goodyera and others. Rock-loving plants are planted 

 together in an artificial rock garden where natural conditions 

 have been copied as nearly as possible and where Saxifraga, 

 Heldreichia, Crepis pygmaea, Viola Cenisia, Poa minor and others 

 of their kind flourish. On these groups of rock a very clear 



