Natural History of Nova Scotia. 651 



that firs will not live upon it in exposed situations. But the 

 swamps, which escape the effects of the fire always, together 

 with the different species of fir, contain alder. This shrub, 

 producing abundance of light seed, which is spread far and 

 wide by the winds, usually composes the greater part of the 

 first growth upon bleak naked hills, especially upon those 

 that have not more than 3 in. or 4 in. of earth above their 

 rocky basis. When the shrubbery of alder attains the height 

 of 3 ft. or 4 ft., the firs always begin to appear. All the trees 

 of the fir kind, it should be observed, are, as well as the alder, 

 furnished with winged seeds, which fit them for being borne 

 by winds as far as is necessary to cover the intervals between 

 swamps. Thus, it appears that the swamps are the seed-beds 

 from which the land is again sowed with firs as often as they 

 are destroyed by fires; and, also, with alder, whenever its 

 shelter is needed to cover the firs. 



This process of nature was favoured by the habits of the 

 Indians, who carefully avoided setting the woods on fire. 

 But the great influx of inhabitants in 1783 produced, in the 

 course of a few years, a complete change in the appearance of 

 the forest. A great number of new settlements were formed. 

 The fires necessary for clearing the land were communicated 

 to the spruce thickets, and spread frequently as far as they 

 extended. The profusion of herbage which followed the fire, 

 for a time furnished a pasture for the cattle. This failed in 

 three or four years. The next dry season the fire was re- 

 kindled, for the purpose of renewing it, which it would do in 

 a less degree. Raspberries, French willow, and other vege- 

 tables, would appear upon part of the ground, but of inferior 

 growth. The roots of the spruces and balsam fir spread 

 horizontally, and take but slight hold of the ground. Being 

 loosened by the sinking of the turf, they are overthrown by 

 every w r ind, and furnish fuel for successive fires, which are 

 usually rekindled every dry season by design or negligence, 

 till, the combustible matter being consumed, with the exception 

 of that portion which is washed by rains into the swamps, the 

 ground becomes so much exhausted, that it produces only a 

 growth of heathy shrubs, among which the kalmia predo- 

 minates ; and, in many places, it is necessary that this should 

 continue long enough to form a few inches of turf, before the 

 alder and other large shrubs can be reproduced, as a shelter 

 for another growth of firs. 



Near to the cultivated districts, the wood, in time, becomes 

 scarce ; and the swamps are finally attacked by the axe ; thus 

 destroying the trees which used to furnish seeds to the ground 

 where fires had destroyed the wood : and it is probable that, 



