THE FOEESTS OF CANADA. 11 



for the present and future generations of Canadians, is indeed grave. It is hardly a forcible 

 argument toadvance,that the mone}' placed in circulation as wages to labourers employed in 

 lumbering and the consequent local stimulation to trade or the enormous increase of private 

 capital are a sufficient indirect gain. The cash paid as wages for sucli hibniir, labour which 

 should have been used in the protection and development of these very forests, could never 

 represent if multiplied many hundred times, the loss which has occurred owing to its mis- 

 direction ; and the capital represents only a fraction of the use and value of the forests which 

 should have been guarded for the public benefit. It is not yet too late to formulate a policy 

 which will protect the sparse remains of this once dense forest and control them for the best 

 interests of the whole country ; it is a policy which the present generation demands and the 

 neglect of such a plain dut)' on the part of our legislators will onl}' be an evidence of short- 

 sightedness, of the triumph of party over patriotism, for which they will be visited with the 

 just reprobation of those who will have to suifer from the present ill-considered action. 



That part of the southwestern peninsula of Ontario which lies west of Toronto has a 

 flora quite distinct in many respects from anj- other part of Canada. Its position between 

 Lakes Ontario and Erie and along the latter lake accounts for this, and to this also is due 

 its value as a fruit garden. The trees peculiar to this district are : 



Ashnma triloba, Dnv^\, (Cucumber-tree). Sassafras officinale, Sees. (Sassafras). 



Liriodendron Tvlipifera, Liun. (Tulip-tree). Platanus occidentalin, Linn. (Button-wood). 



Gymnocladus Canadensis, hsLva. (Kentucliy cofifee-tree), Carya porcina, Nutt. (Hog-nut hickory). 



Cercis Canadensis, Linn. (Judas-tree). " lomenlosa, Nutt. (White-heart hicliory). 



Gleditschia tricanthos, Linn. (Honey locust). " mierocarpa, Nutt. (Small-fruited hickory). 



Pirus coronaria, Linn. (Crab apple). Jxiglans nigra, Linn. (Black walnut). 



Cratsegus Crw-galK, Linn. (Cock-spur thorn). Castanea saliva, Mill, var. American-j. Gray. (Cliestnut). 



" iomentosa, Linn. (Downy-leaved thorn). Qaercus bicolor, Willd. (Swamp white oak). 



Armelanchier Canadensis, T. & G. (June-berry). " coceinea, Willd. (Scarlet oak). 



Cocntts/on'da, Linn. (Flowering dogwood). " palustris. Da Ro\. (Swamp oak). 



iV//.îJ(a îrtwWi'fyrrt, Wang. (Sour gum). „ tinctoria, B&H. (Black oak). 

 Fraxinus quadrangulata, Michx. (Blue ash). 



In the above list there are 23 species which represent a flora that has its affinities in the 

 south and gives an entirely difterent aspect to the forests of the western peninsula when com- 

 pared with those of the east. One leading feature is the almost total absence of coniferous 

 trees and the great development of the hickories, the oaks, the button-wood, the chestnut 

 and the tulip-tree. The shrubs and herbaceous plants change with the forests, and scores of 

 species not found in other parts of Canada grow here in profusion. The cucumber-tree was 

 once common around Niagara and Queenston, now it is so rare that only the older people 

 can tell one of its existence. In June, 1892, I searched for days before I found a clump 

 fit to photograph. These were on the Niagara escarpment near Merritton. I have also 

 found it fruiting at Leamington, in Essex Co. Although the sassafras is scattered through 

 the old forest and is quite a large tree, it is becoming scarce around clearings, and is seldom 

 planted. There are many fine specimens about two or three miles from Niagara Falls on 

 the high road to Merritton and St. Catharines. The Kentucky coftee-tree, honej' locust 

 and Judas-tree are confined to Pelee Island and were not observed on any part of the main- 

 land except when cultivated, yet the two former are quite hardy at Ottawa, and two fine 

 specimens of the first species are now growing in front of Rideau hall. 



Another peculiarity of the peninsula is that species which in other parts of the province 

 are only large shrubs or very small trees are here well developed, and have become fair-sized 



