New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-18

are only seen here during the Summer months, are
"A GOOD "A could be expected, considering the
sc.nty refources of the valley and the difficulty OF
intercourse with the world outside. The only
manufactures known here are those Of wooden
knick.knscks admirably caryed) and Of rings,
bracelets, breastpins, &c, from the crystals,
agates and other fancied stones found about the
Mer de Glace and its glaciers. These, diversified
by wood cutting, hunting, &c, occupy the long
Winter; for the snow lies in the valley till April,
and is then expelled by sprinkling Its surface with
sand. ashes &c, which hasten Its departure. The
snow probably disappears from all the adjacent
mountain faces in the course OF the Summer, but
may be seen the higher and remoter peaks at all
times when the fogs allow them TO be visible.
All the land that grsss can cling to and not be
uprooted BY the force of gravitation is improved,
but not wisely. Grass is the staple, as it shoHld
be and on this lin the MAIN generous soil, under
these dripping skies, these fountain girdled emf
nepces there should never be less than two tuns
of bay cut TO the acre but there Is oftener less
than half of il. Oats. Potatoes, Cabbages, Wheat,
Rye. Hemp, and little Flax are cultivated, and
are generally Of fair promise, though the custom OF
covering whole fields irregulary with seedpotatoes
PLANTED but three or four inches apart must tend TO
belttle the harvest Plums are the principal fruit
but Judge that Apples are so lucky as to dodge
the frosts of one year in every seven, or should
not meet appletrees, as occasionally do. trust
those who come here next September viii lind ripe
Strawberries for other berries, infer that the
Autumn SHOWS fall too soon. l think, however,
that have seen few Gooseberry bushes nearly
I'D 10 this point. The Vine stopped on the rise OF
the first long, hard hil not far above Sallenche.
! Corn (Indian) halted rather lower down.
| The wood hereabouts is mainly HemlOck which
grows wherever frost will let it, and of which
nearly all the boards used in the valley are made
! Next in importance is the Swamp or Bunch Alder,
| in America merely larger shrub, bnt which here
crows luxuriantly, on dry land as well as wet, to
| hight of forty or fifty feet, and to the size OF
mans body, that it is often split into enc ralls
| Some pasture groves of it are really beautiful
the trees slender and straight as an arrow a few
| Birches ard q think Blue Beeches, but no Oaks,
are seen No othor tree seems to endure persist
emily so low temperature as the Hemock. l
| never saw Wild Flowers 80 abundant nor so deli
cate as they are through Gil this Alpine region,
and the Grass is peculiarly tender and sweet
Tie people seem honest kind and faithful; their
worst fault an addiction to beggary. The price for
mule and a guide for an excursion OF less than
day il six francs each and if they would ask even
more and be content when they received 1t few
would object; but to be importuned for extra COM
pensaton after you have paid all that was origin
ally asked is trial to patience The fields are
| titled by women more than men-labOrlously yet
ineflciently; they work assiduOusly, but to little
purpose through want Of knowledge or skill and
want of means. 1t is melancholy to see the chill
dren who should be in school II cannot find the
schoolhouse) each herdiDg COW, or two or three
goats on the mountan-side, or chasing Disguised
travellers from place to place, urging them TO BUY
their few ragged and worthless crystals or hand
full of Alpine flowers, or glass of water-any-
thing to gain penny. i am sure the whole mum
Der thus seeking pence cannot realize three cents
each per day those who herd cattle may earn hall
that sum. Meantime, their fathers seek larger
recompense as guides, cOachmen, &c.-and so many
seek that but small per centage can find-whlle
the mothers are bowed, wrinkled and haggish from
severe and protracted digging, burden-carrylng &c
| Most of them walk knitting, and have seen one
knitting along the road with heavy basket strap
| ped On her back. These mountains are magniil-
cent, when the fogs will let them be seem these
glaciers are wonderful; the fields are emerald
and nnumerabe rills of purest crystal course
swiftly through them from the mountains to feed
the turbulent, greenish milky Arye, (for all the
streams issuing from glaciers have clayey, light
green hue.) These eyergreens clotbe the hillsldes
with a verdure dark yet grateful TO the eyes these
gorges, glens and cascades are admirable in their
| wildDess, variety and profusion but these foggy
mornings, cloudy days and chilly evenings are IA
vorable neither to health nor comfort, and shall
gladly turn my face toward civilization and sun
shine tomorrow. H. I"