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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



are not nearly so rich as the two typical districts, the Engadine 

 and the Dolomites, of which I have spoken, nor is anything, 

 at least of marked beauty, found in them which is not also 

 found, and generally in more profusion, in those two more 

 easterly districts. Here, however, I am speaking my impression 

 and opinion only, and am not talking from wide or exact 

 knowledge. 



For my first visit to the Pyrenees I start next month. From 

 what I have heard, I fancy its flora is rather distinct than 

 either generally very rich or numerous as regards species. But 

 distinct it certainly is ; and, owing to similarity of soils pro- 

 bably, I have had marked success with Pyrenean plants. This 

 encourages me to extend my experiments to others with which 

 (arriving in bad order) I have hitherto failed, but which seemingly 

 are well worth fetching and introducing to commerce. Among 

 the beauties peculiar, I think, to the Pyrenees are Saxifraga 

 longifolia, Bamondia pyrenaica, Aquilegia pyrenaica (a glorious 

 Alpine species of Columbine, easily grown— with me at least — 

 but all too rarely seen), Senecio leucophyllus, Lithospermum 

 Gastoni and graminifolium, and Saxifraga calyciflora, arctioides, 

 and others. 



I trust that I may on another occasion have something to say 

 as to my rambles in those parts, and in others which I have not 

 yet visited. 



The Auvergne Mountains in France seem to be worth 

 visiting, judging by the number of species or varieties dubbed 

 " Arvernensis." Mont Cenis must be visited, for it holds the 

 beautiful Campanula Allioni, and other gems which I always 

 think of as I pass beneath them in the great tunnel — very 

 properly with my hat off, for it is night when I thus pass 

 through to Italy, and I cannot well break my journey to reach 

 them. Of the mountains of the Tessin, or Italian Switzerland, 

 and of North Italy, I have visited practically little but Monte 

 Generosa. This mountain has its peak in Italy, its hotel two 

 miles off, in Switzerland. The mountain has been spoiled for 

 ever and for everybody, plant-hunters included, by a villainous 

 staring mountain railway, unredeemed by any serious effort to 

 mask its ugliness. It is easily reached from Lake Lugano on 

 the Gothard Railway. But there remain such mountains in 

 North Italy as Monte Baldo, and Grigare, and Bobbio, and 



