Geology of Newfoundland. 323 



trees on Newfoundland, and were pointed out to the writer as 

 timber trees, would be laughed at by a New Brunswick lumber* 

 man, and not deemed worthy of his axe. 



On the eastern or Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, there is 

 but little wood of any value, except for fuel, and the building 

 of fishing boats. 



In the northern part of the island, on the limestone formation^ 

 it is said that formerly extensive forests existed, but that great 

 fires destroyed the largest trees, and these have been succeeded by 

 others of an inferior and much smaller species. 



The greater part of the wood is of small and stunted growth, 

 consisting chiefly of fir trees, about 20 or 30 feet high, and not 

 more than 3 or 4 inches in diameter. In general, these insignifi- 

 cant trees grow so close together, that their twigs and branches 

 interlace from top to bottom. The endless quantity of decayed 

 trees, rotten stumps and branches, newly fallen trees, combined 

 with the young shoots, and tangled brushwood, form very fre- 

 quently a thicket that is almost impenetrable. 



The trees are often covered with lichens, and tufts of white, 

 dry moss, are entangled about the branches. Other green and 

 softer mosses spread over the ground, concealing alike the gnarled 

 and twisted roots of the standing trees, the pointed stumps of 

 those that have fallen, the sharp edges and most slippery surfaces 

 of the numerous rocks and boulders, and the holes and pit-falls 

 between them. 



Every step in the woods and wilds of Newfoundland is matter 

 of toil and anxiety, requiring constant vigilance to avoid falling, 

 and unremitting labour to find standing room. Climbing, creep- 

 ing, and every other mode of progression, must be used to get on- 

 ward. The course has constantly to be changed, and new direc- 

 tions are taken, in order to find those places through which to 

 force a slow and tortuous way. 



During the heat of summer, or what is called such in New- 

 foundland, the thickness of the low and stunted trees shuts out 

 every breath of air, while they are not sufficiently thick at top to 

 exclude the scalding rays of the sun. And this heated atmos- 

 phere is rendered more unpleasant by the strong smell of turpen- 

 tine which emanates from every pore of the scrubby spruces and 

 firs. 



Such are the leading characteristics of what in Newfoundland 

 are called *' the woods." Embosomed in these woods, and cover- 



