Vegetation of Northern Cape Breton. 



337 



vanicum are common in neglected pastures, while Salix humilis, 

 Alnns mollis and Spiraea latifolia are frequently prominent. 

 But while Dicksonia and other herbs often develop luxuriantly, 

 and while shrubs may sometimes come to predominate over con- 

 siderable areas, on the whole there is no sharply defined inter- 

 mediate successional stage between grassland and coniferous 

 forest. As a matter of fact, trees are present from the outset. 



Figure 35. — Reproduction of balsam fir and spruce in abandoned field, 

 Barrasois. 



A close examination of almost any grassy field will usually 

 reveal the presence of numerous young seedling coniferous 

 trees (Fig. 35). In the face of repeated mowing these trees will 

 persist for several years and are ready, whenever the opportunity 

 offers, to grow up and to more or less completely occupy the 

 ground. Grazing may check tree reproduction but seldom 

 prohibits it entirely. In one field where sheep are pastured much 

 of the year, the writer counted as many as twelve seedling white 

 spruces to the square yard. The browsing of cattle may check 

 their growth and is responsible for various grotesque tree shapes, 



