Tbe crest of the Alps forms a huge dividing-wall between the polar and the equatorial winds, the latter of whidi frequently deposit their moisture in the form of rainfall on the southern side of the range. The best knovnt wind is the Fiihn, a warm, moist south wind that blows with great velocity in eastern Switzerland and the upper valleys of the Rhine, Reuss, Rhone and Linth, and is frequently followed by heavy rain. On its approach the thermometer rises and the barometer falls rapidly; presently a fierce storm breaks out. The is calculated to blow for 17 days in spring, five days in summer and 16 days in autumn. The cold north-northeast wind, known by the French name of bise, blows in the direc tion of Geneva between the Bernese Oberland the Jura, but is little noticeable in summer. Various local winds prevail at the higher levels and are of great importance to invalids, e.g., the uniform morning wind, blowing down-hill, in regular alternation with the evening wind, blowing up-hill. The higher inhabited regions of Switzerland may he divided into three zones. The lowest of these, the hill region, between the elevations of 1,300 and 2,600 feet above sea level, embraces the banks of the lakes in north east and central Switzerland and the adjacent mountain slopes. Great heat often prevails here in summer, though a pleasant relief is afforded by the lake baths. Lake Constance is the warmest of the inland waters, with a temperature of 68° to 75° F. The second, or mountain region, extends from 2,600 to 3,900 feet, a district of numerous towns and villages. The third, or Alpine region (3,900 to 6,550 feet), presents a much lower temperature and dry, clear weather suitable for certain classes of invalids suffering from lung disease. At Sils-Maria, in the upper part of the Engadine valley, the mean January temperature is F.; mean July, 53°, and the mean of the whole year 34°. In general the valleys have a severer winter than mountain peaks of equal elevation, as the colder and, therefore, heavier air steadily sinks down to the bottom of the hollows. At places north of the Alps, such as Zurich and Berne, the normal winter temperature is about 30° F., the summer temperature from to 64° or upwards; at Geneva the corresponding temperatures are as high as 33° and Some of the high-lying valleys, especially those that are open to the east and closed to the west, are facetiously said to have nine months' winter and three months' cold.
Flora and The differences of ele vation affect equally the climate and the natural productions of the soil, hence few countries in Europe, even of larger extent, can boast of a more varied vegetation than Switzerland. The flora of the Alps is one of peculiar, interest. Like all great mountain ranges the Alps harbor a considerable number of plants found nowhere else, and of those which are found elsewhere the majority do not reappear in the plains and valleys below, but in distant mountains or in the Arctic regions. Out of upwards of 800 species belonging to the Alps, but not to the adjoin ing lowlands, nearly one-fourth are absolutely restricted to these mountains, and nearly a fifth are found also in the Arctic regions, these be ing what are hence known as Arctic-Alpine plants. As the elevation ascends there is a gradual change in the aspect of the vegetation, which has been divided into seven regions. In companstan with adjacent countries, Switzer land possesses few forests, and these have lit tle effect in increasing the atmospheric moist ure or in moderating the extremes of tempera ture In the valleys at the base of the moun tains chestnut and walnut grow freely even on the north side, while in the valleys opening toward the Mediterranean lies a zone occupied by these trees while still at a considerable ele vation. Higher up is the zone of the beech,
maple and other ordinary foliage trees reach ing to about 4,000 feet, and then the zone of firs and pines rising about 1,000 feet higher. This region is followed by one of Alpine shrubs, among which rhododendrons ("Alpine rosesp), heaths and whortleberries are conspicu ous, along with larches and two species of pine, the dwarf-pine and the cembra-pine, remark able for its edible seeds and peculiar to this zone. The shrubs cease to grow at about the height of 7,000 feet, but the Alpine plants that cover the pastures intermingled with the shrubs ascend to the snow line, and even beyond in places too steep for snow to lie. Heer collected about 100 different species of flowering plants above the snow limits on the peaks of the Grisons at about 8,500 feet; 24 species have been observed on the Grands Mulets on Mout Blanc at a height of from 9,800 to 10,600 feet; and the sides of the Pizzo Centrale on the Saint Gothard have been known in August to spread to a considerable distance the fragrance of the flowers which covered them in patches. The celebrated edelweiss, which all Alpine tourists eagerly collect, is the most retiring of these snow region plants. Of utility plants the char acteristic product of the plain and lower regions is the vine, which grows up to about 1,800 feet above sea-level. The hilly or lower mountaid region up to 4,000 feet produces good crops of barley and oats and excellent pastures. Above this, in the Sub-Alpine region, up to 5,500 feet, no regular crops are grown; in the upper Al pine region the vegetation becomes more stunted and the variation of the seasons is lost. Beyond lies perpetual snow. Many parts even of the lower parts of the country are stony and sterile, but no spot that can be turned to good account is left unoccupied. Though chiefly an agricultural country, Switzerland cannot grow enough crops to support its population, so that the majority of the foodstuffs have to be im ported. The productive land is cut up among some 300,000 peasant proprietors who raise, be sides the crops already mentioned, wheat, spelt, rye, potatoes and tobacco, and manufacture cheese, condensed milk and wine. Nearly 30 per cent of the entire area is unproductive and about 36 per cent is under grass and meadows. Considerable quantities of fruits are grown. Among domestic animals the first place belongs to the horned cattle. At the last census there were in the country 136,613 horses, 1,615,645 cattle, 171,635 sheep, 550,000 pigs and 358,000 goats. In the summer the cattle are fed on the numerous mountain pastures or "alps,)) but of their winter fodder a large proportion has to be imported. In several cantons bee-keep ing and silkworm culture are carried on. Among the wild animals are bears, wolves, chamois, goats, boars, stags, badgers, foxes, hares, otters, squirrels; birds of prey of large dimensions; the snipe, heathcock, cuckoo, black bird and woodpecker. The lakes and rivers produce a varied abundance of fish.