Letter from John Muir to [Joseph] Le Conte, 1872 Apr 27.
[Letterhead:] Pen Sentinel Hotel, A. C. BLACK, Proprietor. Yo Semite Valley April 27th 1872Dear Le Conte, I am sorry that I have nothing more [drawing] Cross section of Sierras & of their zone of Arctic plants at the foot of the ranges as it perhaps existed at the opening of glacial spring time...
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| Language: | English |
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Scholarly Commons
1872
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| Online Access: | https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/1451 https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/muir-correspondence/article/2450/viewcontent/muir02_0806_md_1.pdf |
| Summary: | [Letterhead:] Pen Sentinel Hotel, A. C. BLACK, Proprietor. Yo Semite Valley April 27th 1872Dear Le Conte, I am sorry that I have nothing more [drawing] Cross section of Sierras & of their zone of Arctic plants at the foot of the ranges as it perhaps existed at the opening of glacial spring time & of the same as it now does exist near the summit of the [illegible] range a short distance from glaciers. - definite &, detailed than the following to offer on this interesting & important subject of plant distribution to wh you have kindly called my attention. There is no portion of Sierra Nevada history more unmistakeably written than that of her climate from the beginning of the departure of her glaciers to the present time, Bear in mind this important truth The glacial period is not yet ended in this portion of the range, & whatever of doubt may continue to exist concerning the past condition & position of Arctic plants on this western slope their present position 2& character may be positively known. Glaciers retired slowly & steadily from the foot of the range to their present shadowy hidings in the summits, where they are now dying one by one. These glaciers seem to have been followed by a [illegible] of arctic plants of varying width from first to last At least they are now so followed. Because Arctic plants now exist in bogs of some portion of the Alps, they are supposed to be the remnants of a once generally diffused Cold flora". I doubt the truth of this hypothesis, but will offer no opinion but I am very sure that no Arctic flora ever was generally diffused over the western slope of this portion of the Sierra Nevada since the formation of glaciers. The different members of this flora followed their food-procuring glaciers just as young chickens follow the scratchings & cluckings of a mother hen, they ascended the mtns with a breadth of numbers measured by the breadth of climate bearable by them & by the kind & quantity of their food - heat & dro[illegible] ... |
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