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LORD Howe's island. 299
plant which I have seen from a station considerably above that limit
is Vacciii'mm Fitls-Idaa, which Capt. W. Penny gathered in Bushnan
Island, on the N.W. shores of Greenland, in latitude 76° N., long.
66° W. Possibly there may be some mistake about the locality, as no
other expedition has brought home the Cranberry from so high a
latitude. If, therefore, to settle the question, Arctic explorers will
but collect the leaves of any beiTy-bearing plant, however sour, bitter,
or insipid the fruit may be, they woidd confer a benefit upon geogra-
phical botany.
It may be asked, at a time when renewed efforts are being made to
explore the Arctic regions. Does vegetation extend as far north as the
pole itself? I answer. Yes ; if th.cre be land, there are also plants. It
is known that excessive cold during the winter exercises but a limited
influence upon a vegetation which, like the Arctic, enjoys the protec-
tion of a thick covering of snow, and is besides in a state of inactivity.
The temperature of the summer, the months of July and August, has
by far the greatest share in the distribution of vegetable life in the
northern regions. Now the lowest temperature during that time is
not to be found in the most northern point as yet reached by any
expedition, but in Winter Island, on the eastern shores of Melville
Peninsula, where the mean monthly temperature in July and August
ranges between 34° and 36° Fahrenheit. That spot, which may be
called the phytological pole, is covered with vegetation ; and know-
ing as we do that plants do grow, not only in a soil frozen underneath,
but also (as in the Kotzebue Sound) on the top of icebergs, there
is no reason to suppose that the terrestrial pole is destitute of plants.
—B. Seemann.
VEGETATION OF LORD HOWE'S ISLAND.
By Charles Moore, Esa.
I have lately had an opportunity of visiting Lord Howe's Island,
which lies off our coast (Sydney) some 300 miles. It is small in ex-
tent, and scarcely known to any but navigators. A few observations
relative to the botany of the place, may therefore be interesting to your
readers. The island is situated in lat. 31° 36' S., and long. 159° 5' Ft