74 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Arafo, and Guimar. This route traverses the main ridge of 
mountains to the north-east of the Peak, and affords magnificent 
views of the island in nearly every direction. The journey 
usually takes six to seven hours. It is better, however, to start 
early, and devote a day to it. A strong mule can be ridden the 
whole distance. A guide, although not absolutely necessary, is 
advisable in case of the sudden formation of cloud and fog. 
Immediately above the Villa the vegetation begins to assume a 
more luxuriant aspect. The air is perceptibly cooler, and there 
is usually a heavy morning dew. Only a few of the plants 
noticed can be enumerated here. The small red Fuchsia coccinea 
grew in the hedgerows, and the yellow Dyer's Rocket {Beseda 
luteola) showed its stiff upright flower- spikes. The white 
Willow stood in the fields, while the pink Spurge-Laurel (Dci^/i^^e 
Gnidiuiii) from the south-west of Europe was found established 
in a congenial climate. Large bushes of the common Broom 
(Cytisus Scoparius) were in full bloom. Mixed with these were 
the Canary St. John's Worts, Hypericum canariense and H. 
floribundum. These do not flower until the autumn. In crevices 
of the walls were Asplenium AdianUim-nigrum and Nothochlcena 
Maranta, with the common Polypody [Polypodium vulgare) on 
the wall itself. About a thousand feet above the Villa is the 
region of the sweet Chestnut trees. They were, as yet, leafless. 
Many were of large size. The chestnuts are carefully gathered 
in autumn, and what are not consumed in the island are ex- 
ported to Spain. The poorer peasants thatch their huts with 
branches of the Chestnut trees. Young plants of the annual 
Cineraria cruenta, having the leaves purple beneath, were coming 
up thickly along the roadside. These flower in early summer, 
and brighten up the whole country. The handsome Pteris 
arguta, with the fronds deeply notched, grew in moist places, as 
also northern forms of tall Epilobiums. The first native tree of 
large size met with was the Canary Holly {Ilex canariensis), 
called by the natives " Acebino." Then came grassy slopes. 
In these higher regions, under the shadow of the " umbrella " 
cloud from the Peak, tlie monte verde," or green sward, zone is 
a dehghtful one. In the west of the island hundreds of acres 
are met with in this zone covered with English gorse {Ulex 
eiiropceua). When in flower during February and March these 
vast stretches afford one of the most glorious sights possible to 
