Vegctatioi of Northern Cape Breton. 281 



through the forest, though seldom present in quantity. Black 

 Spruce (Piceo 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. 



