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latter, from different sides. Now, allow me to describe the varying features 
of the mountain as a momentary digression from our lengthy and rather 
formal discussion. 
When the mountain is observed from the south-west, the plant regions 
on its sides are seen to be displayed very clearly by the different elevations 
of the formations; the truncated cone, clad in pure white snow, or some- 
times crowned with clouds; th hazy dark green region of the conifer - forest 
in the middle; a little lower the light red zone of the deciduous forest; then 
the light brown which extends to the base, and merges into mil2 after mile 
of prairie - formation. This view is, as it were, comparable to ENGLER’s system. 
Now, moving eastwards to the Gotemba - plain, we have a full view from the 
south-east, but this is rather limited on the south-west by an area bordered 
by Mt. Ashitaka. In the spring, when the snow still remains on the peak, 
the dark green belt of the pine forest stands in clear relief against the back- 
ground of the pwe white snow. This belt is thick on the north, but 
becomes thinner and broader on the south, extending down the flank to 
the middle of the mountain, and then giving way to the prairie which 
stretches far and wide to the fertile plain of Gotemba. This aspect seems 
somewhat like BrnrHam-HooxeEr’s system. Now passing on to the north 
side, let us sketch the view from the top of the Misaka- pass. Here one gets 
a glorious view of the truncated cone, late in the spring when the snow 
covers the peak above and the prairie below, but leaves the green of the 
pine - forest doubly dark against the pure white snow. The prairie is equally 
broad and extensive as in the view from the south-east, but is broken by 
lava - streams which show themselves here and there by the forest upon them. 
The deciduous tree formation is but faintly represented on this side. This 
view is, figuratively speaking, like EIcHLER’s system. Now, let us turn our 
attention to the north-west side. The coniferous formation has here its most 
luxuriant growth. The conifers stretch all the way from the middle to the 
base. The deciduous forest is very poor and the prairie covers but a small 
area. A bird’s-eye view from the top of the Konno - pass shows this part 
clad with evergreen conifers stretching like a level sea, mile after mile of 
dark purple, broken only by the mountain - range beyond. This view is, so to 
