, 1888-03-09
FLOWERS OF THE SNOW.


An English botanist estimates that the
tropics have from 40, 900 to so, 900 species
of plants, the north temperature zone
about 90, 900 species, and the Arctic gives
about or less than 1, 900, with some 2, 1000
among the Alpine flora, or about 5000
species enjoying % an Arctic climate.
Small rs this cold weather class is, it
amounts to more than most people give it
credit for having, the popular opinion
being that the polar regions and sno
clad mountain tops are practically devoid
OF vegetation. 1t is singular, too, that
while there are 762 kinds of flowers in
the Arctic regions, within the Antarctic
circle a Towering plant has never yet
been found. Everything is against plant
life at 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 nave already seen
that it is well inland on large Lame areas
where such Ike flourishrs 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 it is seen that u nival or AL
pine flora, as compared with that of the
Arctic, is n much more distinctive one,
or has more species wholly its own in
proportion to the total number found.
Tho polar flowers seldom have any per-
fume, and the few that exhibit this de-
lightful quality, however feeble, are, l
think, from that class hat have crept
over the cold border marked by the Arc
tic Circle; or, ia short. none of the fifty
mentioned ENluiman flowers, we
might call them, i'll II popular ~way-havc
any appreciate odor.
The color of these boreal blossoms are
generally of he cold tints, as if in har-
mony with the chilly surroundings, in
stead of the warm liues that would break
in upon the d~csolation with doublee effect
by sheer contrast where so few cheering
tights are to be seen. White and light
yellow predominant, and these color
Gecm associated with frosts and cold
weather, for it appears that those flowers
we call ''cverlastings,' 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 a short distance
OF shore, are colossal kclps and other life
that grow Throughout tho year; of
course, negotiating the most in tho short
summc months.
Land plants, as already said. arc pig
mics compared with those of tho sea, or
even the corresponding class in tho lower
ATTITUDES, and this dwaTfed condition, O
naturalist tells us, is not due 50 much to
the intense cold in tho Arctic winter as
10 The fact they do not get enough
warmth in summer To develop them per
fectly. Dr. Joseph Hooper mentions it
as a rare property Of mt Of the grnminc@
tthc grasses). Trisctttm Subspicatum, that
Il il the only polar s%l~eips known which
a. equally nn inlIabitant of the Arctic and
Antarctic regions.
Nearly all of the plants Of these cold
countries are Of the biennial or perennial
sorts. as the season is too short to give
sinuuals tho whole length OF time they
demand for the maturing Of their fruit
10 insure the next seasons growth. These
pcrcnnials act like our hardy spring flora,
by rapidly pushing their growth before
tho snow is all of the ground and with
the very first cessation Of the vernal cold.
. IINt Sui llO"tlb III plOOLl bO ClOSt u
the snow on King Williams and that l
think the foot could be put down and
leave AN impression on the edge of the
snow and crush the flower at tho same
step: while Middendorf, a Siberian
traveller of note, says that he has seen a
FhododendrQn 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 frigld
zones, and yet both are known in this
unexpected locality. There is the scurvy
grass, n rough cruciferous plant that il
famous for the good it has lone among
explorers in that rough cline in contend
ing with the terrible disease which has
given it its distinctive name. Barley is
grown in good crops as high us Alien, in
Norway, in latitude 20 dogs. north, or
about $50 miles abovs the Arctic circle.
1t is June, July and August in growing,
and the rapidity of this polar growth
under n never setting sun may be plainly
shown by stating hat these barley stalks
have been known to grow two and n half
inches in twenty-four hours. Where the
heat is held by little valleys this Nor
wcgian barley may, III favorable seasons,
be ready to cut in about two months
after sowing; and thus two crops 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 Us a competitor in rails
ing three crops on the same piece of
ground in one Year, There is n tradition
in the province OF Thelemarken-the
place from whence comes the celebrated
hnowshOo mon of Norway-that a certain
farm known rs the Triset gets the first
syllable, tri (three). from the three crops
once reapcd Oh the land in one season.
Rye, which is not so hardy. is cultivated
in Norway for $50 TO 200 miles above the
Arctic circle. and even in Sweden it Is
carried up to that line. Barley was
raised in Iceland from $40 TO 400, and
then abandoned for more profitable cattle
raising; but Is again being cultivated to
avoid lamiucS which are sweeping that
lard Lieut. Schwatka in Woman.
Zones OF tho Aged.
An English chemist has shown that