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is that they have stems and axes horizontal 

 rather than vertical. Others are masses of 

 mossy, cushion-like bloom. In many cases there 

 is a marked enlargement of the root-growth, 

 but the flowers compare favorably in size, 

 sweetness, and brilliancy of coloring with their 

 lowland relatives. 



Among the blossoms that shine in these polar 

 gardens are the spring beauty, the daisy, the 

 buttercup, and the forget-me-not. There are 

 numbers of the pink and the saxifrage families, 

 white and purple monkshood, purple asters, and 

 goldenrod. Whole slopes are covered with paint- 

 brushes, and among these commonly is a scat- 

 tering of tall, white-tipped wild buckwheat. 

 Some of these are scentless, while others diffuse 

 a rich perfume. 



There are numerous hanging gardens that are 

 grander than all the kings of the earth could 

 create ! White cascades with the soft, fluttering 

 veils of spray pour through the brilliant bloom 

 and the bright green of the terraces. In these 

 gardens may bloom the bluest of mertensia, 

 gentians, and polemonium, the brightest of 



ii8 



