uplands, none of which are as yet extensively dissected by the rejuvenated rivers, whose grade and consequent power of dissection were greatly increased by the change of level. Thus a large part of the western Tian Shan region consists of smoothly floored basins and gently rolling uplands lying at a height of from 10,000 to 12,000 feet above the sea, and therefore subjected to relatively heavy precipitation in summer. The conditions of climate among these " pamirs," as they are generically called according to Younghusband, allow an abundant growth of thick, turfy grass full of flowers. Trees, however, are wholly absent on the main plateau, and are rare even on the lower slopes. Schimper explains this as due to the fact that the wet season in midsummer is not long enough to favor the growth of trees, which require a growing season much longer than that of grass. Nevertheless, in the valleys, at an elevation of from six to nine thousand feet, there are some trees and a profusion of delicate flowers, rich grass, and shrubs.
It is not my purpose to discuss the vegetation. It may be worth while, however, to print here a list of the plants, so far as I happened to record them, which grow wild among the lower slopes of the mountains northeast of the Lop basin, but are cultivated in Europe and America. They comprise the apple, apricot, plum, and olive (not the commercial species); the asparagus, onion, and rhubarb; the candytuft, chrysanthemum, crocus, heliotrope, peony, phlox, and tulip; the large blue and purple varieties of columbine; the pansy and lady's delight, both purple and yellow; and the red, yellow, and white varieties of the poppy and rose. That there are many more than these nineteen
IIIF Color HighRes
