Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-04-29

Of vegetation. 1t is singular, too, that
while there are 1G9 kinds Of flowers in
the Arctic regions, within the Antarctic
circle a Towering plant has never yet
been found. Everything isagainst plant
life al that end Of the earth's axletree.
The weather is more severe throughout
the year, and there are few tracts OF
land Of great extent on which plant life
can flourish; and we have already seen
that il is Well inland on large land areas
where such life flourishes the best in the
Arctic, where it can absorb some Of the
little heat that is coming down. without
being chilled to death by contiguous ice
fields.
But of these zoe kinds Of Towering
plants in the Arctic, only some so Of
them, as far as we know. or about one
fifteenth, are wholly residents of that
zone. Thus il is seen that a nival or Al
pine fora, us compared with that Of the
Arctic, is a much more distinctive one,
or has more species wholly IL own in
proportion TO the total number found.
The polar flowers seldom have my per-
fume, and the few that exhibit his de-
lightful quality, however feeble, are, i
think, from that class that Ina crept
over the cold border marked by tln Arc
tic Circle; or, in short, none Of tnu fifty
mentioned - Esquimau hower, we
might call them, in a popular way--have
any appreciable odor.
The color Of these boreal blossoms are
generally of the cold tints, as if in har-
mony with the chilly surroundings, in
stead of the warm hues that would break
in upon the desolation with double effect
by sheer contrast where 50 few cheering
sights are 10 be seen. White and light
yellow predominate, and these colors
seem associated with frosts and cold
weather, for il appears that those flowers
we call ''everlastings.' and which are
the longest to defy the nippings OF the
coming winter weather, are mostly tinted
like the northern SHOWS and yellow
northern lights. 1t is in the depths of
Old Ocean that we find some. Of the
largest expressions OF plant life in the po-
lar zone Here, within q short distance
Of shore, are colossal kelps and other life
that grow throughout the year; Of
course, vegetating the most in the short
summer months.
Land plants. as already said, are pig
mics compared with those Of the sea, or
even the corresponding class in the lower
latitudeS, and this dwarfed condition, a
naturalist tells us. is not due 50 much TO
the intense cold in the Arctic winter as
to the fact they do not get enough
warmth in summer to develop them per-
fectly. DIR. Joseph Hooper mentions it
as rare property Of one Of the graminee
(the grasses, Trisetum Sulspicaum, that
it is the only polar species known which
, is equally an inhabitant of the Arctic and
% Antarctic regions.
Nearly all Of the plants Of these cold
countries are Of the biennial OF perennial
sorts. as the season is too short to give
ANIMALS the whole length Of time they
+ demand for the maturing of their fruit
10 insure the next seasons growth. These
perennials act like our hardy spring flora,
by rapidly pushing their growth before
the snow is all off the ground and with
the very first cessation Of the vernal cold.
have seen flowers in bloom 50 close to
the snow on King Williams land that l
think the foot could be put down and
leave an impression on the edge Of the
snow and crush the flower at tie same
step; while Middendorf, Siberian
traveller Of note saws that he has seen q
rhododendron in that country in full
flower.
1t is hardly to be expected that any
useful or cultivated plants should be
found within the limits Of the frigid
: zones. and vet both are known in this
unexpected locality. There is the scurvy
grass. a rough cruciferous plant that Is
famous for the good il has done among
explorers in that rough cline in contend
J ing with the terrible disease which has
given il It's distinctive name Barley is
, grown in good crops as high as Alien, in
Norway. in latitude 20 degs. north, or
about $50 miles above the Arctic circle.
Ii is June. July and August in growing,
: and the rapidity Of this polar growth
under never setting sun may be plainly
shown by stating that these barley stalks
have been known to grow two and a half
inches N twenty-four hours. Where the
heat is held by little valleys this Nor
wegian harley may, in favorable seasons,
! be- ready 30 cut in about two months
after sowing; and thus twocrops secured
in one summer; just as California brags
Of its two crops Of certain grOwths in one
season. But what would California think
of bleak Norway AS a competitor in rais.
igg three crops ON the same piece Of
ground in one year? There is a tradition
in the province of Thelemnrken-the
place from whence comes the celebrated
snowshoe men of Norway-that a certain
? farm known as the Triset gets the first
: syllable, tri three, from the three crops
once reaped on the land In one season.
Rye. which is not so hardy, is cultivated
in Norway for $50 TO 200 miles above the
I Arctic circle, and even in Sweden Il is
II carried up to that line. Barley was
n raised in Iceland frosl $40 10 400, and
then abandoned for more profitable cattle
. raising. hut is again being cultivated 10
d avoid fauiincs which are sweeping tina.
:. lard.-Lieut. Schwatka In Woman.