FLOEA OF NEW BRUNSWICK. l91 



gives character to the vegetation of limited localities, but is altogether inadequate to 

 account for the phenomenon under consideration. Other and more important causes must 

 be sought for. 



(1.) The Gulf Stream. — The fact has been already mentioned that the Arctic flora 

 was driven southward by the cold and ice of the Glacial period, and as the ice retired 

 before the increasing temperature, the plants followed it towards their ancient home. A 

 large number lingered along the shores of the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf on this side of 

 the Atlantic. On the European side a much larger number retreated within the Arctic 

 circle and made it their permanent abode. This may be largely accounted for by the 

 influence of the gulf stream which Hows round the northern shores of Europe and bathes 

 them with its warm waters. The westerly winds, in their course over the Atlantic, take 

 up heat and moisture from the warm waters of the stream, and carry them far inland 

 over the plains and high lands of Arctic Europe. The climate is, cousec|ueutly, more 

 humid and congenial to the growth of plants than in any other region of eciual extent 

 within the Arctic circle. Hence the vegetation is more luxuriant than in the same latitu- 

 des elsewhere. The great northern bend of the isothermal lines, caused by the gulf 

 stream, furnishes the climatic conditions necessary for the growth of the same plants as 

 bloom along the shores of northern New Brunswick. 



(2.) Geographical Position and Surface Contour. — The province of New Bruns- 

 wick lies between the parallels of 45° and 48° N. lat., and between 64° and 68° W. long., 

 and possesses an area of 32,000 square miles. Its northern border is situated near the 

 middle line of the temperate zone, and its flora, instead of being so strongly Arctic, should 

 represent the middle temperate. The vast extent of land, however, lying to the north and 

 north-west, and bringing down the isothermal lines far south of the position they occupy 

 on the western side of the continent, reduces the temperature during the winter and 

 spring mouths. The prevailing winds sweep over boundless regions of frozen lakes and 

 forests, and the snow, consequently, lies till late in the season and not unfrequeutly it 

 may be found along the northern border as late as June. 



The surface contour helps to heighten this effect. The northern and north-western 

 portion of the province consists of a somewhat rugged plain rising to the height of from 

 200 to 500 feet above the sea-level, its southern border terminating in a wide ridge of 

 rugged, broken country which crosses the whole province from the State of Maine to the 

 shores of the Gulf. This portion of the country is intersected by the many branches of 

 the Upper St. John and the Restigouche. Forests cover almost the whole surface, except 

 where fires have swept over it. Deep glens, shady ravines, cold bogs and springs 

 abound, and the snows linger long beneath the sheltering groves and cliffs. Plants that 

 love a cold, damp soil or atmosphere, often find in these sunless spots the conditions suited 

 to their constitution. 



South of this high area lies the broad triangular plain of the Carboniferous sandstone. 

 Its apex lies south of the St. John near the border of Maine, and its base rests upon the 

 Gulf which forms its shore for a distance of one hundred and fifty miles. The whole plain 

 is comparatively low, seldom rising to the height of three hundred feet. A large portion 

 of its surface is covered with sphagnous bogs and swamps, and extensive barrens of 



