Vegetation of Northern Cope Breton. 



281 



through the forest, though seldom present in quantity. Black 

 Spruce {Picca mariana) also is frequently represented by 

 scattered specimens. 



In the account which follows, for the sake of convenience, 

 forests of the usual climax type, predominantly deciduous but 

 with a more or less pronounced admixture of evergreen trees, 

 are frequently referred to simply as "deciduous forests." 



Figure ii. — Primeval forest of the regional climax type, along Indian 

 Brook; mostly beech, maple, and hemlock, with some yellow birch and 

 balsam fir; dense undergrowth of yew. 



Sij:e of trees in climax forest. — The relatively large size 

 attained by some of the trees in the primeval forests of northern 

 Cape Breton is suggested by the following diameter measure- 

 ments^ which were noted for various species : beech, 25 inches ; 

 sugar maple, 36 inches; yellow birch, 42 inches; red maple, 18 

 inches ; paper birch, about 3 feet ; red oak, 35 inches ; white 

 ash, 24 inches ; balsam poplar, about 2 feet ; balsam fir, 16 inches ; 

 hemlock, 30 inches ; white pine, about 30 inches ; white spruce, 

 26 inches; black spruce, about 12 inches. 



° Diameter measurements of trees were taken at breast height. 



