114 ALPINE FLOWERS. Part I. 



matter, as on any common soil a choice collection may be kept 

 in perfect health with far less trouble than is required by the 

 commonest of bedding plants. 



The Lion's-paw Cudweed is very abundant on Monte Cam- 

 pione. Daphne and Rhododendron in small quantities, and the 

 pretty little Polygala Chamabuxus, often crop out in a very 

 diminutive state, much less beautiful than when in cultivation. 

 A blue Linum, probably L. alpinum, is very common ; the rare 

 Allium Victor tale I found sparsely on high rocks ; and Dryas 

 oclopelala zhimdaniiy in flower, with Anemone alpina in a very 

 dwarf state ; while pale flowers of the common Gentiana acaulis 

 looked up singly here and there. In the higher and barer 

 parts of the meadows. Aster alpinus was very charming, not in 

 tufts or masses, but dotted singly over the turf. Having climbed 

 so high for the chief object of our ascent, we failed to find 

 it there after a long search, and, disappointed, were de- 

 scending the mountain down a long and rocky chasm formed 

 of a vast > bed with' banks - of shattered rock, when, much - to 

 our pleasure, a little plant with a few leaves was discerned 

 growing from a chink on a low mass of rock. By carefully 

 breaking away portions ..of .this, we succeeded -in getting the 

 plant, roots and all, out intact, and,' by very diligent searching, 

 found a few more specimens of it. It was not yet' in: flower, but 

 pushing up the stem preparatory to it. Then, a' long trudge 

 down mountain, valley, and hilly road, brought us home to our 

 quarters at half-past nine, after a long and interesting day of 

 nearly twenty hours', walking. A description of the scenery from 

 the top of this mountain -is,ietter not attempted, and, indeed, 

 for several hours near the top^'V)&^.,could not see many; yards 

 before us because of a white mist. Butohe.time, when as:^igh as 

 we could go, the guide shouted to attract our attention,- and we saw 

 through a rent in the mist the far-off country below— lake, hills, 

 and villa-dotted lowlands, warmed by a bright .sun, and happy- 

 looking as Eden " when o'er the four rivers the first ro&es bleyv." 



I returned from North Italy by the Simplon. With a few 

 words on the vegetation of some parts of that great range, 

 these notes will end. The chief feature of the smaller vege- 

 tation alongside the great Simplon Road is the foxbrush-hke 

 flowering pyramids of the great Saxifraga Cotyledon. The 

 little Campanula caspitosa is very abundant and pretty in 

 some spots, and on the highest parts of the road, wherever 



