most wonderful range. Here they all were again, as bright, and maintaining themselves as happily in the heart of the Arctic Regions as on the backbone of Asia" (The First Crossing of Spitsbergen, by Sir W. Martin Conway, 1897, p. 125). Such quotations could be almost infinitely multiplied, for every Arctic voyager has been similarly fascinated with the wonderful luxuriance and beauty of the Arctic flora.
But besides being a fascinating feature of Arctic scenery, vegetation on Arctic lands has played and will continue to play a most important role in Arctic exploration. Without it the North Polar Regions could not have been penetrated so extensively as they have been by man, and if greater advantage had been taken of it directly or indirectly there would not have occurred some of the disasters that have marred Polar exploration. As long ago as 1671 Martens knew the value of sorrel and scurvy-grass in Spitsbergen for human food. "I desire," says Martens, "the courteous Reader to accept at present of these for Sample to shew him that on these rough, barren, and cold Mountains, there yet grow some Plants, for the Nourishment both of Man and Beast. The Herbs grow to their perfection in a short time, for in June, when we first arrived in Spitsbergen, we saw but very little Green, and
