1884.] INFLUENCE OF GEOLOGICAL FORMATION. 105 



extensively on and near the shores of the Bay of Fundy. They 

 include one of the most productive areas for the growth of the black 

 spruce (Abies nigra). This tree here attained a large size, its wood 

 was usually sound and free from shakes ; it grew usually in clusters 

 and bunches, on soil which furnishes very inferior hardwoods, such 

 as red lieech and white birch. In some cases there were but a few 

 inches of soil lying upon the rock ; in others, the roots had to bend 

 and twist themselves in, around, and over the loose stones which 

 tluckly cover a large part of the country. The hard rocks of this 

 district, when the surface was level, retained the drainage water ; 

 and in many places these tracts were covered by peat barrens, over 

 which were scattered a few stunted black spruces which usually 

 became smaller in size towards its centre, which was generally 

 higher than at the circumference, often by as much as three or four 

 feet. On the edge of the " barren " there was usually a growth of 

 small-sized larch, the wood of which was generallj- more or less 

 defective. If a ridge adjoined the " barren," as it very frequently 

 did, it was almost always found to be rich in black spruces, whicli 

 within certain limits increased in size as they increased in elevation 

 above the barren. The hardwoods in this district were usually of short 

 growth, and not of large size, while the other woods, such as Thuja, 

 were small and defective. With the exception of certain districts, 

 usually situated along tlie shores of streams, and on the banks of 

 rives or lakes, the white pine (Pimis Strobus) was of inferior size 

 and quality. There were, of course, exceptions to this rule — ^where 

 beds of sand occurred, or in certain clay districts : there these trees 

 often attained a large size, and produced most excellent wood. There 

 were also many ridges lying back from the tide, where the hard- 

 woods were of much better growth ; but these were the exceptions. 



UrrER SILURIAN KOCKS AREA. 



I'assing from the Lower to the Upper Silurian, which occurs on 

 the upper waters of the St. John river, commencing about the 

 mouth of Eel river, eighty miles from the sea in a direct line, this 

 formation extends as the river runs, up it for more than one hundred 

 miles. We find great bodies of calcareous slates, much disturbed, 

 having usually a high dip, which disintegrate readily, and form a 

 deep soil supporting a large-sized and tall growth of maple, birch, 

 and other trees, chiefly hardwood. When the black spruce and 

 hemlock (Abies Canadensis) occur here, which is comparatively rarely, 

 they are also large and of good quality. The white spruce is, how- 

 ever, more abundant here than the black. The Thuja, which is 

 abundant, is also of excellent quality, and of large size. Shrubs, 



