127 



Indian pipe, or bird's nest ; the latter is not so plentiful, but found in 

 similar situations. Here also Corallorhiza multiflora and Orobanche 

 Virginica were found, and at one place, in a dense thicket, the rare 

 and curious Pterospora Andromeda. 



Near the confines of the woods, in drier situations, the white and 

 pink varieties of Phryma leptostachya occurred ; and on the dry lime- 

 stone ridges, which prevail in this neighbourhoad, large quantities of 

 Triosteum perfoliatum, Gnaphalium raargaritaceum and Botrychium 

 obliquum were found ; along the margin of Lake Ontario, Serpicola 

 verticillata was noticed, its delicate flowers floating on the surface; 

 The beech, sugar-maple and white pine, from their quantity and local 

 situation seem to have been the original inhabitants of this district ; 

 and mixed with them, but not so much in groups, were noble speci- 

 mens of oaks, elms and walnuts. The sugar-maples bore evident 

 marks of having been often pierced for their juices. Fringing the 

 edges of some meadow land in this district, the stag's-horn sumach 

 {Rhus elegans) presented a most magnificent appearance from the 

 quantity of scarlet fruit which they carried. 



He was agreeably surprised to see such a variety of native haw- 

 thorns, being convinced of their fitness for forming hedges so very 

 much wanted in this country, and which many of the inhabitants ex- 

 pressed a great desire to have, instead of the unsightly snake fences 

 which at present separate the fields. But apparently they never 

 thought that the indigenous thorns would answer for this purpose, as 

 they talked of importing haws and whitethorns from Britain. Mr. 

 M'Nab gave instructions to those individuals with whom he had an 

 opportunity of conversing upon the subject, so that they might raise 

 thorns for themselves, as an abundant supply of seeds may be annu- 

 ally procured at no great distance from each settlement. As these 

 instructions may be interesting to others, we here repeat them. 



" The fruit should be gathered about the end of October, care be- 

 ing taken to keep the seeds of the luxuriant growing sorts from those 

 of the dwarfer kinds. A pit should be prepared about a foot and a 

 half deep, into which the fruit is to be put, with a mixture of earth or 

 sand. It should be turned several times during the season, and if dry, 

 a little water may be added. One or two inches of soil being a sufli- 

 cient covering to ensure the decomposition of the pulp. During the 

 following October a piece of good ground should be prepared, and 

 the seed sown as it is taken from the pit, pretty thick, in drills about 

 a foot distant fi'om each other, or in beds three feet wide. In the suc- 

 ceeding spring the plants will begin to appear ; at which time, and 



