OF NOVA SCOTIA. PREST. 41] 



even in extreme cases, otherwise it would form a valuable 

 article of food. Bitterness can however be modified considerably 

 by boiling in salt or grating- finely and soaking in water, and 

 then roasting. 



In dry and moderately wet soils. Very abundant in the 

 western counties ; rare or absent east of Halifax. 



61. Polygonum convolvulus L. Black Bindweed, " Wild Buck- 



wheat. 



A climbing tree, 3 ft; to 10 ft. long, with slender stem and 

 triangular leaves, long and pointed, climbing through fallen 

 trees and bushes. Seeds very small, black and triangular, with 

 dry starchy kernels. A poor substitute for common buckwheat. 



In old cleai-ings and open woods. Abundant in many 

 districts. 



62. Pinus Strohii^ L. White Pine. 



Tree GO ft. to 100 ft. high, evergreen and coniferous, with 

 rough corrugated dark grey bark and often sweeping trunk? 

 sometimes heavily branched. Wood white with red heart, soft- 

 est of Nova Scotia coniferous woods, as well as most durable. 

 No other Nova Scotian tree resembles it. Leaves, five from the 

 same sheath, needle-shaped, l:j in. to 2^ in. long, cones gently 

 swelled in middle and pointed at outer ends, 4 in. to 5 in. long. 

 Seeds ^ in. to I'Vin. long, sweet, soft, slightly resinous, inside of 

 and at base of cone scales, nourishing and easily digested, but 

 not liked much. 



In all sorts of soil except the wettest portion of swamps. 

 Generally distributed and often abundant, but difficult to gather 

 Available until spring. 



63. Pinus resinosa Aiton. Red Pine. 



• Tree 40 ft. to 70 ft. high, coniferous, straight trunk ed with 

 branches at right angles to trunk. Bark red, rough, not so 

 regularly corrugated as that of the white pine. Wood harder, 



