PECULIARITIES OF THE MEADOWS 149 



The chief result of mutilation by the scythe is the 

 development of a branched system from the stem, 

 which originally may have been quite unbranched. 

 The whole character of the plant is more straggling 

 and less compact, owing to the prevalence of the 

 branched habit, and the flowers are smaller and less 

 conspicuous. Thus the second crop of hay differs 

 remarkably from the first, and the Alpine meadows, 

 when ready for the scythe for the second time, never 

 present the same appearance as they did in spring. 

 When a third crop is harvested, the contrast is even 

 gi'eater. Such is briefly a year's history of an Alpine 

 meadow. 



The meadow plants form an interesting association 

 (see p. 32), well worthy of study, and of comparison 

 with the flora of the neighbouring alpen or pastures. 

 An English meadow in June is fair to look upon, 

 but an Alpine meadow is still finer. This fact is due 

 to several causes. Although our British fields are 

 rich with Buttercups and Daisies, as well as other 

 flowers, yet the Grasses, with their comparatively 

 inconspicuous flowers, form by far the greater pro- 

 portion of the plant inhabitants of the meadow. In 

 the Alps, on the other hand. Flowering Plants of the 

 Dicotyledonous class with conspicuous flowers are 

 quite as numerous individually as the Grasses, and 

 sometimes even outnumber them. 



The greater beauty of an Alpine meadow is also 

 due to the more intense coloration of the flowers, 

 and to the extremely robust or " well-grown " habit 



