270 Notes of a Visit to North America. 



down to the water's edge, and are covered with trees. 

 Here and there is a little village, with a population entirely 

 French. The trees were almost all pines of comparatively 

 small size. It is melancholy to notice here, and all over 

 America the immense tracts of forest which have been 

 destroyed by fire. Frequently one sees the old timber 

 strewing the ground, and almost entirely rotten — the fire 

 having taken place perhaps fifty years ago ; above these 

 there is another generation of prostrate trees, comparatively 

 fresh — the fire having occurred ten or twelve years ago ; 

 and then there may be a still younger generation, which 

 will in all probability meet the same fate as its pre- 

 decessors. I mention this destruction of forests, not 

 because of its economic bearings, but because it is in this 

 way that the ground is cleared for a new flora to make 

 its appearance. As the steamer stopped frequently for an 

 hour or so, I had time to go on shore, and I picked up 

 many American plants, amongst them Osmunda interru'pta 

 and Onoclea sensihilis. 



Having arrived at Quebec, I walked some miles into 

 the country, and met a number of European plants : the 

 chicory, with its abundant bright blue flowers, reminded me 

 of Germany, also the ox-eye daisy and common Linaria of 

 home. Naturally the sight of familiar plants suggested the 

 question, How did they come there, and displace the native 

 plants ? A distinguished naturalist who was with us 

 maintained that these European plants had become stronger 

 in their struggle with cultivation, and were better fitted to 

 survive than others which had grown for ages in countries 

 where the struggle for existence was less severe. As popu- 

 lation spreads, the natural vegetation is forced to occupy 

 poorer and poorer ground. But this by no means solves 

 the problem ; tlie clearing of the ground of forests is 

 probably a more important factor. As Asa Gray said later, 

 " it is opportunity, rather than specially acquired vigour, 

 which gives the old world weeds an advantage" over 

 indigenous plants. 



At Toronto a friend took me to see the "bush," the 

 bush as it was in prehistoric times uncorrupted by civilisa- 

 tion, and there I saw the important role which the Com- 

 positse play in the North American flora. This "bush" 



