1869.] MATTHEW — ON PLANTS IN ACADIA. 143 



alternately fan districts bordering the sea in intcr-tropical regions, 

 result from the periodical heating and cooling to which such 

 lands are subject every 24 hours. Analogous to this is the 

 prevalence of certain sets of wind on the coast of large areas of 

 land in temperate latitudes, during the summer, and of others 

 during the winter months. 



It is on these lands in going north from the coast that we meet 

 with a new group of species, which range thence up the St. John 

 River and its tributaries into Northern Maine. The influence oF 

 natural drainage of soils upon the distribution of species in the 

 neighboring Province of Canada, has been observed by Mr. Ma- 

 coun, of Belleville, in some remarks drawing attention to the occur- 

 rence of certain western species on the dry gravel ridges in that 

 neighborhood ; and the presence of continental forms in certain 

 part.s of the interior of Acadia, such as the valleys of Kings 

 County, in the southern hills, the dry terraced lands of the St- 

 John River and its tributaries, and the rich calcareous districts 

 in the south-west part of the upper plain, are but manifestations 

 of the same law of distribution, lands thoroughly drained being 

 in a condition to absorb and retain more heat than those which 

 are wet. Were it not for the depressed position of a portion of 

 the lower plain, along the base of the southern hills, which is 

 little above sea-level, and the imperfect drainage which results 

 from the flatness of this region, there would be a more decided 

 exhibition of western species in the southern countries than we 

 now find. 



It is to be regretted that so small a part of Continental Acadia 

 has yet received the attention of botanists, and that the material 

 for working 6ut the subject of this paper is so imperfect. It is, 

 therefore, quite possible that a part of its contents may not be 

 confirmed by more minute and extended investigation. The 

 scantiness of the material may be inferred when it is stated that 

 out of the fourteen counties into which the Province of New 

 Brunswick is divided, a detailed examination has been made in 

 parts of four only. The three catalogues upon which these 

 remarks are based, comprise species collected in Kent County, by 

 Rev. James Fowler, and Rev. J. P. Sheraton ; in Central York, 

 by Prof. L. W. Bailey ; and in a part of St. John and Kings, by 



* See article ou flora of Canada, by Druoiraond, Can. Nat., Vol. 1, new 

 series, page 405. 



