of this plant, but did not stop to examine it, taking 
it for the Empetrum. But after going a few steps 
further, an idea of its being something I was unac- 
quainted with came across my mind, and I turned 
back ; when I should again have taken it for the 
Empetrum, had not its greater height caused me to 
consider it with more attention. I know not what 
it is that so deceives the sight in our Alps during the 
night, as to render objects far less distinct than in 
the middle of the day, though the sun shines equally 
bright. The sun being near the horizon, spreads 
its rays in such a horizontal direction, that a hat 
can scarcely protect our eyes: besides, the shadows 
of plants are so infinitely extended, and so con- 
founded with each other, from the tremulous agita- 
tion caused by the blustering wind, that objects 
very different in themselves are scarcely to be dis- 
tinguished from each other. 
It is a remarkably neat little shrub, which might 
be mistaken at first sight for a heath. Although 
small it is comparatively robust when seen with 
another species of Andromeda — the hypnoides, a 
plant which covers wide tracts of the northern regi- 
ons like moss. 
Andromeda tetragona requires to be planted in 
good sandy peat, and succeeds best in a shady situ- 
ation, covered with a hand-glass; or it may be kept 
at all times in a shaded part of the cold frame. Al- 
though under a Lapland atmosphere, it can bear 
the extremes of temperature, it cannot do the same 
w ith us. Cuttings of the young shoots strike readily 
in sand, under a bell-glass. Shade and a little bot- 
tom heat will aid their growth. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 3, 829. 
