’C en tral Canadian ’ flora.

’Sub-Arctic ’ flora.

Broad-lea ved trees.

The map/es.

BOTANY.

1. The sandstone swells of Prince Edward Island are everywhere clothed with a rich and varied vegetation. Its flora is much the same as spreads over the rest of Eastern Canada, but its dry and fertile soil produces a greater abundance of deciduous forest trees and the flowering plants which usually accompany them.

2. On the rolling districts, affording the best agricultural soils, Beech, Yellow Birch, Maple, Oak, and White Pine flourish, with an undergrowth of Mountain Maple, Rowan, Hazel, Elder and thick—tangled brambles. Grasses carpet the soil, jewelled

with roses, convolvuli, and sweet-scented violets. These plants belong to the Central Canadian flora.

3. On the cold soils of the swamps and barrens a different class of vegetation abounds. Spruces and sparse-foliaged Larches, Poplars, Birches, Aspens, and moss- grown Firs form the timber growth; while a thick, shrubby carpet of Andromeda, Ledum, Whortleberries, and prostrate Arbutus spreads at their feet. These are members of the Sub—Arctic Flora, inhabiting the far north of Canada, and penetrating even within the Arctic Circle. Thus, two distinct floras occupy the two distinct classes of soil common on the Island.

4. Other peculiarities are noticeable. The Cedar is confined to Prince county, and we never saw the Arum, the Calapogon, or the Grand-flowered Habinaria in other parts of the Island. The Hemlock is not found East of St. Peter’s. The assemblage of plants on the Triassic hills is something different from that on Permian districts. [pp. 30-31] ACERACEAE. — The Map/es. We have four Maples. Acer sacchar/num, or Sugar Maple, is a noble tree, with dark, rugged trunk and spreading branches, rising a corona of five-lobed leaves with rounded sinuses 60 feet above the rich soil where it grows. Its blossoms are yellow, and its leaves turn yellow in autumn. Its timber is close-grained and strong. Used in machinery and for ship-building, also in cabinet—work and for engraving. Indians make axe-handles and baskets of it. From the sap of this tree maple sugar is manufactured. Each tree will give about four pounds. The annual production on the Island is 25,000 pounds.

The Red Maple (A. rubrum} is a smaller tree. Its blossoms are red and its leaves assume a brilliant crimson in autumn. The leaves have acute sinuses, which

distinguishes them from those of the Sugar Maple. Its timber is also softer and less valuable.

Striped Maple (A. Pennsylvanlcum) is a small tree, with the young bark striped with olive and green. Its large leaves are three—lobed, rounded at the base, and have a soft, rich texture. The greenish flowers are in drooping racemes.

Mountain Maple (A. montanum) grows as a thick under-shrub in the forests on the

hilly parts of the country. Its small, rugose leaves are five—lobed; racemes, large, erect.

Much of the brilliant coloring of our autumn woods is produced by the rich tints of the ripened maple foliage. [pp.44-451

ORNACEAE — Ash Family.

The Black Ash grows in wet swamps. It is a large tree, with handsome, pinnate foliage and large, deep-blue buds. Leaflets sessile. The White Ash assumes drier ground. Its leaflets are petiolate and white beneath. Ash wood is much used for hoop-poles and baskets, as well as in cabinet work. [p.55]

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