128 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

 

autumn. Oaks, birches, beeches, chestnuts, walnuts, ma-
ples, elms, larches, alders, and sycamores are among the
most common of the deciduous trees.

Extensive grass-covered meadows are found in the cold
temperate plant zones.

The sub-arctic zone is characterized by cone-bearing
trees. The polar zone, by Alpine shrubs and mosses.

Forests require, for their luxuriant growth, an abun-
dance of moisture, evenly distributed throughout the
year, or during the time the trees are growing.

Steppes are regions covered with a scanty vegetation ;
they are produced either by insufficient moisture, or its
irregular distribution throughout the year.

The principal cereals are barley, rye, oats, wheat, maize,
corn, and buckwheat.

The principal food-plants of the tropical regions are
rice, dates, cocoa-nuts, bananas, plantains, cassava, sago,
yams, and bread-fruit.

Some of the most important plants cultivated for the
beverages they yield, are tea, coffee, and cocoa.

The principal spices are pepper, cloves, nutmegs, and
cinnamon. The principal narcotics are opium, betel,
hasheesh, and tobacco.

Cotton, hemp, and flax are valuable as furnishing mate-
rials for clothing.

- The cinchona-tree yields quinine.

REVIEW QUESTIONS.

——-059500—_.

What is protoplasm? Of what does all life consist?

In what respect are animals dependent upon plants for
their existence?

Define plant geography. In what respect does it differ
from botany? Name the conditions requisite for plant
growth.

How do these conditions compare with each other in
importance? Describe the formation of soil.

Why is soil of comparatively less importance to the ex-
istence of vegetation than heat or moisture?

What do you understand by the horizontal distribution
of vegetation? By the vertical distribution ? :

What is the main cause of the difference in the flora of
different parts of the world?

Why should the isothermal lines generally form the
boundaries of the plant zones?

Name the horizontal zones of vegetation.

State the boundaries of each of these zones.

What is the characteristic flora of the tropical zone?

Why should the vegetation of the tropics be so much
more luxuriant than that of the rest of the world?

Why should the same change be noticed in the vegeta-
tion of a high tropical mountain, in passing from its base
to its summit, as in passing along the earth’s surface from
the equator to the poles?

Describe the vertical vegetable zones. To what hori-
zontal zone does each of these correspond?

Name the conditions requisite for the luxuriant growth

 

of forests. How do the forests of the cold temperate zones
differ from those of other zones?

By what climatic conditions are steppes produced ?

What conditions are requisite for the production of
meadows and prairies? How are deserts produced?

Name some of the more important cereals.

Which of the cereals form the principal food-plants of
the temperate zones? Which of the cereals has the far-
thest northern range? Which is the most important?

Name the principal food-plants of the tropical regions.

What is the principal region for the cultivation of
dates? Name the principal regions in the world noted
for the successful cultivation of the sugar-cane.

Name the fruits of the tropical and warm temperate zones.

In what portions of the world is coffee successfully cul-
tivated? Where is tea cultivated?

From what tree is chocolate obtained ?

From what plant is black pepper obtained? Where is
the plant cultivated?

From what are cloves obtained? Where is the tree cul-
tivated? Where are nutmegs grown? What is mace?

In what part of the world is cinnamon cultivated ?

Namé the principal narcotics used in different parts of
the world.

Name the plants which furnish valuable materials for
clothing.

From what tree is quinine obtained ?

Name some of the principal vegetable dyes.

MAP QUESTIONS.

—-050300—_

Trace on the map showing the distribution of vegeta-
tion, the parts of the world included in the tropical
zone.

Name the plants of the tropical zone which are charac-
teristic of South America. Name those of Africa. Of
India and Australia.

Describe the principal region of the cocoa-nut palm,
bread-fruit, sago, and yam in the eastern continent.

Describe from the map the limits of the sub-tropical
zones. Describe the characteristic flora of those por-
tions of each of the continents which lie within these
zones.

Describe the limits of the warm temperate zones. Of

the cold temperate zones. Of the sub-arctic zone. Of the
polar zone.

Trace on the map the northern limit of trees. Trace
the southern limit of trees.

Name some of the trees of the warm temperate zones,
Of the cold temperate zones. Of the sub-arctic zones.

In what parts of the world are pasture-lands found?

Name the characteristic plants of the regions which lie
north of the arctic circle.

Trace on the map showing the vertical distribution of
vegetation, the characteristic plants found in Africa, be-
tween the level of the sea and 5000 feet.. In Europe. In
Asia. In America,