CANADIAN BOTANY. 47 



"Natural and Civil History of the French Dominions in North America." Also in Denis's 

 "Description Géographique et Historique des Côtes de l' Amérique-Septentrionale, avec 

 l'Histoire Naturelle de ce Pays." In Diéreville's " Eelation du Voyage du Port-Eoyal de 

 l'Acadie," which is half prose and half verse, there appears to be nothing of special value 

 relating to the vegetation of the country. Nor are we at liberty to infer that the appear- 

 ance of " North America" on the title page indicates that Canada is referred to in the text. 

 As a matter of fact, it frequently occurs that v^'heu such title is used, only a portion of this 

 continent is dealt M'ith, and that Canada is not referred to at all. 



Our review properly begins with the first voyage of Jacques Cartier to New France, 

 in 1534. The shores he visited were then clad with a vegetation as yet unmodified by the 

 agency of man. Everywhere a rich growth of virgin forest spread over hill and valley, 

 and lent its potent influence to give these early explorers abundant assurance of the 

 wealth of natural resource which the country contained. Within the three hundred and 

 fifty years that have since passed, however, changes of an important character have taken 

 place to a striking degree ; and an explorer now, visiting oiir shores for the first time, would 

 be obliged to base his estimate of natural resources upon somewhat different evidence 

 than that used by Cartier. Nor are those changes completed. They are going on at the 

 present day at accelerating rates, and cause us to scan the future, into which they must 

 extend with results we cannot foresee, with a measure of justifiable solicitude. The 

 modification of our flora through the introduction of new species from abroad ; the 

 practical destruction of species in certain localities, and their extension to new areas of 

 distribution ; the denudation of large areas formerly heavily clothed with valuable timber, 

 and, together with these, the various attendant changes affecting man's comfort and 

 welfare — these are all changes still in progress, which not only present many problems of 

 the highest botanical interest, but in their relation to our future welfare, they are also 

 changes which may well cause the prudent economist and statesman to pause and 

 consider. 



Jacques Cartier, like most of his immediate successors in the discoveries of the New 

 World, appears to have been a far better navigator than naturalist, if we are to judge by 

 his journals,' which are most barren of botanical information. Nor is this at all a matter 

 of surprise when we consider the development of the natural sciences in his time. It 

 was, therefore, to be expected, that his immediate followers should also deal only with 

 very general observations. 



Champlaiu^ appears to have been imbued with a broad spirit of enterprise, both as 

 an explorer and naturalist, since his journals bear eA'idence of serious attempts to do justice 

 to the natural history of the country explored. He landed at Quebec on July 3rd, 1608, 

 and, on October 24th, he records having planted grape-vines brought from Europe. His 

 journals are somewhat profusely illustrated with animals and plants, but his skill as a 

 delineator was, unfortunately, not of a very high order. Some of his plants are recognisable, 

 others are not ; and, as there were no attempts at classification, his use of local names, or 

 of common names derived from France, renders their identification a matter of some 

 doubt. Such notes as he made of the vegetation of the districts through which he passed, 



' Voyages de Jacques Cartier, 1S64. 



^ Les Voyages du Sieur de Cliauiplain, 1G13. Œuvres de Champlain, Quebec, 1870. 



