11R. JOHN LOWE OK WAYSIDE DOTAKY IK KOUWAY. 
G31 
Tliero is perhaps no feature of the Xorwegian Flora which is 
more striking to a sti'anger, than the remarkable luxuriance of 
certain plants which with us are comparatively mre. For instance, 
Cornua xueeica, which covers an immense area with its pretty white 
petaloid heads, succeeded in autumn hy lovely clusters of scarlet 
horries. 
Tn like manner along the fjords, especially on the Sogne, we find 
deep belts of Pol i/iiiifHitui itliPt/dpteri-t and I\ ilnjopteri)^ extending for 
miles and attaining a large size. The glorious Sax’t/rapa mfiih-ihnt 
also here attains its perfect development, clothing the rocks with 
its lovely plume-like tresses. Then we have great tmcts of moun- 
tains covered with Amlromeila polifoUa, Metizie.-ia rauiilea, and 
liuhns rJia^ntcnionix, etc. 
It would he interesting to ascertain the exact causes which give 
rise to the preponderance of the.se species in the struggle for 
existence, while many of our other British species are there unable 
to reach the same degree of growth which they attain with us. Our 
I’ricirs are not to he found in Norway, with the exception of (*alhma 
riiJi/arix, which is fairly frei[uent, hut never covers any great ext<*nt 
of ground. 
AVhen wo have considered the differences of climate, the length 
of time during which the plants are covered with snow, the smaller 
amount of fertilizing insects in Norway, and all the other causes, 
such as drainage, soil, etc., which affect the growth of plants, there 
still remains a good deal unexplained. Here, no doubt, the 
“survival of the fittest” depends on two main conditions: 
(1) the fertilization and ripening of the seeds during the short 
summer, and (2) the protection of the roots during the prolonged 
winter. 
But there is a third condition noticed hy Gilbert White,* which 
has not been sufficiently regarded in the struggle, and that is, the 
combined effect of frost and sun. T believe there is no condition 
so destructive to vegetable life as a hot sun after a severe frost. 
I have found that scarcely any alpine ]dant is killed by tolerably 
severe frost, but as soon as a powerful sunlight is directed on the 
plant, the frozen leaves are killed by the rapid thawing. So it 
comes to pass that the plant, which, through the less succulent 
* ‘ Xaturd History of Sclboriie.’ 
