50 FLOW OF THE SAP IN THE SUGAE-MAPLE. 



condemned to the pile, or left heedlessly, rotting on the 

 ground. 



The hemlock is not regarded as indicative of any 

 peculiar quality of soil ; and yet its distribution in the 

 province is somewhat singular. It does not occur, it is 

 said, in any sensible number on the St John Eiver, above 

 the Grand Falls, or on the east coast north of Belledune, 

 on the Bay de Chaleur. And yet there are suitable 

 soils and tracts of country north of these points, equally 

 mild in their climate with the districts in which it is 

 found. Of course, this selection of a habitat is not an 

 effect of caprice, and the cause of it would be interesting 

 to ascertain. Can it be connected with specialties in the 

 summer or winter means of the places in which it thrives, 

 or even of the monthly means which, as we now begin 

 to see, exercise an important influence in determin 

 ing the localities in which plants can permanently 

 grow ? * 



The maple is not much attended to in this district by 

 the English settlers for the manufacture of sugar. In 

 our conversation on this subject, however, Mr Brown 

 mentioned to me, as well ascertained, a curious circum 

 stance in regard to the flow of the sap of the maple-tree 

 in early spring. The flow sometimes begins as early as 

 February, but generally in April. After a frosty night 

 in April, the snow being still on the ground, the sap will 

 flow freely after sunrise, if the wind be west) north-west, 

 or north. But if the wind be south, the sap comes 

 sparingly ; and if, while it is flowing freely, the wind 

 change to the south, the flow will diminish, and gradually 

 cease altogether. 



Of course, this curious fact must be connected with 

 the quality of the wind, and the aspect of the sky when 

 it is blowing. The April mornings are remarkably 



* See DOVE S Maps of Monthly Isotherms. 



