28 GEOT.OGICAL MEMOIRS. 



On the Inundation in the Vintschgau in Tyrol. 

 By Prof. Simony. 



[Proceed. Imp. Acad. Sciences, Vienna, January 1857.] 



In giving an account of the effects of the torrential inundation 

 which took place, in June 1855, in the Vintschgau (Tyrol), Prof. 

 Simony remarked that the Rezchenscheideck (altitude 4850 feet) is 

 only ibo feet above the highest point of the Upper x'Vdige Valley, 

 which has an inclination of only 107 feet in |-ths of an Austrian 

 mile (about 4 English miles). The Adige, when leaving the Lake 

 of Haid (altitude 4556 feet), the lowest of the three water-basins of 

 this valley, has already acquired rather considerable dimensions. 

 Its inclination from its point of issue to Glurns, in 4ths of an Austrian 

 mile, is p-th of its length. From Glurns downwards to Spondinig 

 (altitude 2824 feet), the valley enlarges and becomes nearly horizontal, 

 the slope being not above --yrj-th, and increasing only to yfo^^ between 

 Spondinig and Laas. Between Laas and Schlanders (altitude of the 

 Adige bridge being 2270 feet) a cone of detritus, -Jths of an iVustrian 

 mile in length, crosses the valley, and the Adige runs down this 

 natural barrier with a slope of ^th. 



The inundation was a necessary consequence of continuous rain- 

 falls and extensive melting of snow. Its destructive effects were 

 increased by the breaking-out of the Lake Haid ; in consequence of 

 which three villages next to the steepest course of the Adige were 

 almost entirely destroyed, and Glurns threatened with a similar 

 calamity. The effect of the raging torrent between Lake Haid and 

 Laatsch was merely erosive. Its bed, of an average breadth of from 

 60 to 90 feet in its normal condition, was extended in some localities 

 from 180 to 540 feet. The volume of detritus torn out along this 

 extent, and afterwards in great part deposited on the plain of Glurns, 

 mav be estimated, at a very moderate computation, to be between 

 5,400,000 and 6,480,000 cubic feet. 



The debris deposited near Schleiss by the Schlinig rivulet, in such 

 quantities that it covered several houses to the top of the roofs, is of 

 geological interest, its outlines and the disposition of the fragments 

 contained in it offering a striking analogy with some phsenomena 

 observed in ancient diluvial deposits. [Count M.] 



On the Distribution o/" Plants on the Styrian Alps. 

 By M. Stur. 



[Proceed. Imp. Acad. Sciences, Vienna, March 12, 1857.] 



M. Stur communicated a paper on the distribution of plants on 

 soils of different natures, as observed by him during his excursions 

 in parts of Carniola, the territory of Goritzia, and part of the lUyrian 

 sea-board, during the summer of 1856. He stated that he considered 

 the chemical constitution of the soil should not be the only one of 

 its physical conditions to claim attention in vegetable geography, as 

 is often the case. Soils identical in physical conditions bear identical 



