THE MEADOWS IN SPRING 147 



parison with that of an Alpine or Arctic region : hence 

 the necessity for haste in the Alps. It is due to this 

 fact that the majority of Alpine plants "rush into 

 flower " at the earliest moment. 



But there is one class of plants for which the race 

 is even more severe. In the High Alpine region the 

 snow does not disappear until much later — perhaps 

 the end of July. The conditions of May and June in 

 the valleys resemble those of July and August in the 

 High Alpine regions above 7,000 feet, and, by the 

 end of August, snow may ring down the curtain 

 once again. Thus for such plants the period of 

 energy is much shorter, and the struggle against 

 time still keener, while the work to be accomplished 

 remains much the same. 



But to return to the Alpine meadows, just laid 

 bare by the melting snow, and of an ugly brownish 

 hue : the peasant now seizes the earliest opportunity 

 for a rich dressing of manure, often applied in semi- 

 liquid form from a primitive tank-like wooden box on 

 wheels. Within a few weeks the effect is magical. 

 A dense growth springs into existence, and increases 

 rapidly until, often before the end of June, the scythe 

 is at work. 



The hay is made in the usual way as with us in 

 England, except that in many districts it is heaped up 

 to dry in the form of miniature stacks on cross- shaped 

 wooden frames placed, at this season, in the meadows. 

 At other times these frames may be often seen ranged 

 in rows outside, or on the walls of the chalets. When 



