DEVIL'S WALKING-STICK. 63 



with Equisitacece, and rank sour sedge-grass. 

 The characteristic trees attaining to any mag- 

 nitude on the western slope of the Cascades 

 are the Douglas Spruce (Abies Douglassii}* 

 Menzies Spruce (A. Menziesii), Hemlock Spruce 

 (A. Mertensiana], Pinus contorta, and the useful 

 so-called 'Cedar' (Thuja gig antea). Between the 

 open bits of prairie are graceful groups of the 

 large-leaved Maple (Acer macropliyllum}, Vine 

 JMaple (A. circinatum), together with the waving 

 Dogwood (Cornus nuttalii), and brilliant red and 

 green Alders (Alnus rubra and A. viridis} ; whilst 

 the river-banks and loamy valleys are shaded by 

 clumps and rows of massive poplars (Populus 

 balsamifera), under the larger forest-growths, 

 Mahonia, Spireus, Ribes, Vacciniums, Gaultheria, 

 and that most prickly and unpleasant plant named 

 the ' Devil's Walking-stick' (Panax horridus), 

 mingle their leaves and branches into an im- 

 penetrable tangle. 



The first twenty miles of the Boundary-line 

 takes nearly a parallel course with the Eraser 



* Through patches of these gigantic firs, near the Sumass 

 prairie, the axe-men had to cut the Boundary-line. The 

 trees grew thickly together, and many exceeded 30 feet in 

 circumference, and measured from 200 to 250 feet when 

 stretched on the ground by the brawny choppers. 



