144 POST-GLACIAL EXTENSION OF SOUTHERN 



That these stumps have grown where tliey are now embedded 

 is indisputable, as they cannot possibly be accounted for by a 

 land-slide. The contour of the neighbouring surface is totally 

 opposed to it. The valley is surrounded by clif!s and rocky hill- 

 sides, and contracts at its upper end into a narrow rocky gulch, 

 so that the present position of the stumps is the only place 

 where vegetation could have thriven and peat have been formed. 

 The stumps are much decayed and worn level with the surface 

 of the bog, but are still complete enough to show that they are 

 indigenous to this spot. 



At the mouth of Broad River, in Queens County, behind a 

 sand bank, is a large depression which at low tide is a marsh 

 containing a pond one quarter of a mile long. At high tide it is 

 a lake. The oldest settlers say that sixty years ago, this place 

 was a swamp covered with forest. The partly decayed stumps 

 and roots now found at low tide attest to the truth of the story. 



At Catherine River, east of Port Joli, in the same County, a 

 large tract of salt marsh was dyked, and a new river channel 

 cut. This channel, although cut through soil periodically cover- 

 ed by the tides, reveals several feet below the surface abundance 

 of partly decayed roots, stumps and logs. The existence of a 

 forest at this place seems to be beyond the memory of the 

 oldest inhabitant and I have failed to secure any tradition re- 

 lating to it. 



At Port Mouton, also, as well as other places around our 

 coasts, deposits of peat containing logs, roots and stumps are 

 seen at low tide. 



In Prince EdAvard Island, a slu^rt distance aliove the city of 

 Charlottetown, there is to be seen at low tide a considerable 

 deposit of peat and marsh mud containing the stumps and roots 

 of immense trees larger than any I have ever seen on the Island. 

 These stumps have been worn down an<l are gra<lually becoming 

 covered with sand. 



On the south shore of Cascumpec Bay is a vast bed of peat 

 known as " Black Bank." It is the result of the growth of a 

 species of peat moss denominated " Sphagnum." The contents 

 of this bog have been estimated at 14,080,000 cubic yards. With 



