15 
the mountains, takes place at considerable elevations, 
from the operation of other causes. This being com- 
bined with moisture, we have two of the characteristics 
of a tropical climate, and find that, in such circumstances, 
a less degree of heat is essential for the maintenance 
of plants otherwise indicative, though only annuals, of 
tropical vegetation. Of these may be instanced one of the 
Scitaminece, the family to which the ginger and cardamom 
belong, at as great an elevation as nine thousand feet, with Bal- 
sams, Begonias, Cyrtandracetx, Melastomacece, a Smithia, 
Cassia, &c. : even a Bamboo is found as high as ten thou- 
sand feet ; but its annual stems are yearly levelled by the 
falls of snow, while the roots are protected by their sub- 
terranean situation from the great changes of temperature. 
It is this moist state of the atmosphere, and the frequent 
showers previous to its accession, which render practicable, 
at considerable elevations in these mountains, the cultivation 
of rice ; an annual that ripens in a few months. This shews 
how futile was the attempt to cultivate it in this country, 
merely because there appeared to those who thought only 
of temperature, a similarity in climate. 
But luxuriant vegetation is not confined to tropical 
countries, as we know from the beauty and variety of 
scenery in temperate climes, dependant on an entirely 
different set of plants. Among these, the Coniferce are 
conspicuous ; and the Amentacece give the greatest variety 
of trees, as oaks, chestnuts, birches, horn-beams, hazels, 
poplars, and willows ; with elms, maples, rhododendrons, 
and the walnut, which, though found in southern latitudes, 
grow in mountainous situations only. But these are not 
more indicative of moderate temperature than are many 
other families of plants ; as the Ranunculacece, Gentianece, 
Primulacece, Saxifragece, Valerianece, Campanulacece, 
Rosacece, some tribes of Labiates, Cruciferce, Caryo- 
