Vegetation of Dalmatia. 7 



of Croatia and of Istria. The islands of Dalmatia belong to the 

 first division : on a similar elevation to that of the continent, 

 flourish several plants of the south, which are not found upon 

 the main land ; such, for instance, as Piinica Granatum, Myrtus 

 communis, Fiburnum Tinus, &c. The precise limits batween 

 the north and the south are indicated by the A^erium Oleander, 

 which first appears near Salona ; the line then passes along the 

 islands, through Lesina and Lissa, which differ strikingly in their 

 vegetation from the upper islands. 2. Other lines of demarcation 

 maybe traced from east to west, indicating the flora of the plains 

 and that of the marshes, that of the stony hills and of the higher 

 mountains, all of which present a remarkable difference : but, 

 before we proceed to a closer analysis, it would be advisable to 

 say a few words upon the nature of the climate, which exercises 

 as much influence upon plants even as the soil itself. Dalmatia 

 is about sixty German miles in length, and about two degrees 

 in breadth. In many places there are barely a few miles between 

 the mountains and the sea ; and the climate, consequently, is not 

 uniform, but varies according to the position of the country. 

 Ragusa and Cattaro are by two or three degrees warmer than the 

 country of Zara, in the vicinity of the Velebit. There is no true 

 winter along the Dalmatian coast; for one or two degrees of cold, 

 during a few days, can hardly be said to constitute a winter. But 

 it is the winds which render the climate more severe ; and among 

 these are to be distinguished the Bora, which, passing along the 

 canal of Morlachen, takes up the saline particles of the sea, and 

 surrounds the plants with a white efflorescence, which is most 

 prejudicial to vegetation. But such storms, though violent, do 

 not frequently occur : they are mostly felt in November, at the 

 end of which month the nominal winter of Dalmatia commences. 

 But, even in December and January, crocus, ixia, and colchicum 

 are found in bloom, as also i^elleborus multifidus ; and the 

 pastures are greener than in August. Spring begins towards the 

 end of February, which is generally the most severe month in 

 the year. What I am saying now refers to the coast : in the 

 mountains, the season is four weeks later. A gi'eat quantity of 

 bulbous roots announce the opening spring, and each succeeding 

 day in March presents new flowers, /ris tuber5sa, TVarcissus 

 Tazetta, and Ornithogalum reflexum, appear along the hedges of 

 evergreens, composed of iaurus n6bilis, Pistacia Xentiscus and 

 Tferebinthus ; while Geranium tuberosum, Campanula cordata, 

 and -Lathyrus inconspicuus show themselves, towards the end of 

 March, among the corn. In the middle of April, the whole 

 surface of the earth is swarming with flowers. One has not 

 hands enough to collect every thing in so short a space of time ; 

 for the flowers fall almost as soon as they bloom, or they are de- 

 voured by the goats and sheep. The month of May is particu- 



B 4 



