172 



iroo(//uui(/ : Phnit GcograpJiy in Swi/zerland 



Natural History, and wrote many ])apers on luitomology, 

 Botany, and PaLTontolo^y.* In a little paper (1845. F. H. 15), 

 on the upper limits of plant and animal life in the Swiss Al])s, 

 he gives the results of many interesting and suggestive observa- 

 tions on the mode of hfe of insects and plants at high 

 altitudes. 



From this time onward, the study of })lant-geography and 

 ecology has been pursued by many active workers, and in \'ery 

 varied directions. The earliest part of this period was charac- 

 terised by several important works. The brothers Schlagint- 

 weit (1850 and 1854, F. H. 81), published the results of many 

 valuable observations on the limits of trees, vegetation zones, 

 including zones of cultivation, growth of woody plants at high 

 altitudes, etc. It was at this time that Thurman (1849, F. H. 

 ^ig) pubhshed his well-known work on the influence of soils on 

 the distribution of plants in the Jura, the principles there 

 brought out were largely used among others both by Baker, 

 in his Flora of ' North Yorkshire,' and by Lees, in his ' Flora 

 of West Yorkshire.' 



Four years earlier than this, Lesquereux (1849, F. H. 59) 

 gave the results of his important observations on peat moors, 

 especially ' high moors,' laying a solid foundation on w^hich 

 later work has been based. A few years later Alfonse De 

 Candolle (1855), issued his ' Geographical Botany,' and this was 

 followed (1875, F. H. 83) by a discussion of the influence of the 

 duration of glaciation upon the richness of the Alpine flora. 

 The Alpine flora naturally attracted the attention of the botan- 

 ists ,and much was written, and many speculations advanced 

 respecting the distribution and origin of this interesting element 

 in their flora. 



H. Christ, an active lawyer, was reading papers before 

 the members of the Alpine Club, and accumulating materials 

 f or what was afterwards to become the most enjoyable and excel- 

 lent work on the Swdss flora. His ' Pflanzenleben der Schweiz,' 

 (1879, H. 76), not only summarises the work of the preceding 

 period, but is, except for formations and adaptations, a com- 

 plete geo-botanical monograph of Switzerland, dealing fully 

 with the different zones and regions, influence of climate, soil, 

 geographical elements, as well as the history and immigration 

 of the flora. It is indeed a model work of its kind, and is ob- 



* For an interesting account of Heer's life and work, see ' Oswald 

 Heer's Leben,' by C. Schroter and J. J. Heer. Ziirich, 1885. 



Naturalist, 



