the
north in the Peace river valley. Though the climate of the plains is one
of extremes and often of rather sudden changes, it is brisk and
invigorating and of particular value for persons affected with lung
troubles.

The climate of the Cordilleran region presents even more variety than
that of the other provinces because of the ranges of mountains which run
parallel to the Pacific. Along the coast itself the climate is insular,
with little frost in winter and mild heat in summer, and with a very
heavy rainfall amounting to 100 in. on the south-west side of Vancouver
Island and near Port Simpson. Within 100 m. inland beyond the Coast
Range the precipitation and general climate are, like those of Ontario,
comparatively mild and with moderate snowfall towards the south, but
with keen winters farther north. The interior plateau may be described
as arid, so that irrigation is required if crops are to be raised. The
Selkirk Mountains have a heavy rainfall and a tremendous snowfall on
their western flanks, but very much less precipitation on their eastern
side. The Rocky Mountains have the same relationships but the whole
precipitation is much less than in the Selkirks. The temperature depends
largely, of course, on altitude, so that one may quickly pass from
perpetual snow above 8000 ft. in the mountains to the mild, moist
climate of Vancouver or Victoria, which is like that of Devonshire. In
the far north of the territories of Yukon, Mackenzie and Ungava the
climate has been little studied, as the region is uninhabited by white
men except at a few fur-trading posts. North-west and north-east of
Hudson Bay it becomes too severe for the growth of trees as seen on the
"barren grounds," and there may be perpetual ice beneath the coating of
moss which serves as a non-conducting covering for the "tundras." There
is, however, so little precipitation that snow does not accumulate on
the surface to form glaciers, the summer's sun having warmth enough to
thaw what falls in the winter. Leaving out the maritime provinces,
southern Ontario, southern Alberta and the Pacific coast region on the
one hand, and the Arctic north, particularly near Hudson Bay, on the
other, Canada has snowy and severe winters, a very short spring with a
sudden rise of temperature, short warm summers, and a delightful autumn
with its "Indian summer." There is much sunshine, and the atmosphere is
bracing and exhilarating.

_Flora_.--The general flora of the