148 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 
below the snow region, with a medium temperature of 
+ 2°50; the zone of the birch (594 metres), of the willow 
(416 metres), of the crowberry, Empetrum nigrum (236 
metres), with a medium temperature of +1° centigrade ; 
the Alpine zone, with spots of permanent snow; the zone 
of perpetual snow, extending from 920 to 1217 metres 
above the level of the sea, with a medium temperature of 
+0°4° centigrade ; and lastly, the zone above this last. At 
59 metres above the line, is the limit of vegetation. 
The medium temperatures which have been stated 
indicate that cold must predominate throughout this 
vast region; but vegetation is on many spots very rich; 
the flowers there have an extraordinary brilliancy of 
colour, and vegetation developes itself with extreme 
rapidity, From the end of May the temperature may 
be very pleasant, rising to 20° centigrade towards the 
middle of the day. In the beginning of June occur 
débdcles in the lakes and rivers; by the 20th there are 
twenty-four hours of day, and the mean temperature of 
the month rises to 9°700. July is very warm, with a mean 
temperature of 15°33°. By the 20th July barley is in ear; 
the hay-harvest occurs at the same time; and the plague of 
mosquitoes then attains its culmination. August is often 
very rainy, with a mean temperature of 15°36°. The 
harvest is generally terminated by the middle of August, 
some ten or twelve weeks after seed-time. Towards the 
middle of the month begin the long nights of autumn, In 
September the days are short, and this month is charac- 
terised by gales, accompanied by rain and snow. There is 
then made the gathering of wild berries, especially those 
of the cloud-berry (Rubus chamemorus), which constitutes 
a very important article of food. The mean temperature 
is 540°, The other months belong to winter, with a mean 
temperature in October of 2:5° ; in November of —1:98°; 
in December of —7:20°; in January of —17:50°; in Feb- 
ier of —18°60°; in March of —11°40°; and in April of 
om eeO: 
P - writer on Lapland in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia 
ells — 
