360 PLANTS, SEEDS, AND CURRENTS 



islands of the group of which the botany is little known, was frustrated 

 by the outbreak of the war. 



His Ascents of the Cone of Pico. — Two ascents were made of 

 the summit of Pico, 7613 feet above the sea, namely, on April 1, 1913, 

 and on July 16, 1914 ; whilst several ascents to altitudes of between 

 5000 and 6000 feet were accomplished during both visits on the north, 

 east, south, and west sides of the peak, as well as numbers of excursions 

 on the lower slopes. A few words may be said here on the best 

 plan of exploring the mountain. The usual route to the summit 

 from Magdalena by the Serra, past the Lomba (5000 feet above the 

 sea), and up the south-west side of the cone, is the worst that could 

 be chosen by the botanist, since it does not bring him into contact 

 with the upper woods and provides insufficient opportunities of 

 examining the upland moors. The constant employment of this 

 route has been unfortunate for the botanical exploration of the 

 mountain, and largely explains how it came about that it was left 

 for the author to be the first to discover one of the most interesting 

 plants in the Azorean flora, in the form of Arceuthobium oxycedri, 

 a parasite on the Junipers all around the mountain. It also accounts 

 for the fact that certain plants, such as the Laurestinus (Viburnum 

 tinus), Hydrocotyle vulgaris, etc., which are rarely to be observed 

 along this route, were never accredited to Pico until his visit. 



All routes to the peak from the west and south sides meet near the 

 Lomba, a prominent hill situated at the south-west angle of the foot 

 of the cone proper. It is from this corner that the easiest ascent 

 to the summit is made. But the top of the mountain can also be 

 reached from the east side. Though more difficult, this ascent was 

 effected, as I was told, by a man of San Joao many years ago. 



For the botanist the best plan is to examine the southern slopes 

 from San Mattheus, the western slopes from Magdalena, and the 

 northern slopes from Bandeiras and Caes-o-Pico; whilst the easiest 

 way to explore the eastern, and especially the south-eastern slopes, 

 where the upper woods attain their greatest development, is to 

 avail oneself of a house used for cheese-making which is situated 

 about 2500 feet above the sea between Caes-o-Pico and San Joao. 

 The shortest route to the summit is from San Mattheus, and it is 

 one that does not involve a night spent on the mountain. By 

 starting in the early morning the traveller can reach home the same 

 evening after a prolonged stay on the top. Parties of young men 

 of San Mattheus make the ascent during the short summer nights, 

 and after viewing the sunrise return to their homes in time for their 

 day's work. 



Though summer is naturally the most appropriate season, much 

 can be done by the botanist on Pico in the winter months, since the 

 woods are composed of evergreen shrubs and trees, and the usual 

 lower snow-limit encroaches but slightly on the wood- zone. But 

 in the winter half of the year, especially when snow lies on the peak, 

 it is difficult to procure guides to take one to the top. The bitterly 

 cold north winds, the heavy rains, and the prevailing cloud-cap, 

 are the chief obstacles at this season. I had to wait for several 

 days before I was able to induce my man to complete the last two 



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