1823, SEPTEMBER. AMHERSTBURG 13 



I was told frequently overflowed by the water from the upper lakes. The 

 soil is very rich black loam, covered with trees of large size. Quercus sp. 44 

 Herb., trees from 50 to 70 feet high, 40 feet without branches. With a 

 shot from my gun I cut some branches, leaves and acorns. Tbey seem 

 to me to be fine and different from any which I had seen before. With a 

 few shots more I secured specimens and paper of seeds. I did not observe 

 any trees but of great magnitude, rough bark, leaves deeply lobed, acorns 

 large and almost enveloped in the cup. Quercus sp. 45 Herb, (soil the same 

 as the preceding) tree is also large, but not so handsome as Quercus sp. 46 

 Herb. On the south end of the island the trees are much smaller than the 

 others ; it probably is not a distinct species, as it was growing on sand on the 

 margin of the river. How glad I am to see my rose of yesterday growing 

 in perfection ! very strong growth, leaves large serrated and strong veined, 

 no flowers, seed-vessels in clusters ; the soil was very rich, mostly all decayed 

 leaves. I lost no time in securing plants and seeds. Crataegus sp. 12 Herb., 

 a beautiful large shrub, or more properly a tree, fully 30 feet high, having a 

 large round top, growing in every part of the island. Crataegus sp. 13 Herb., 

 a tree of very large size, leaves large and slightly serrated, fruit uncommonly 

 large, almost like crab-apples. This genus seems to attain a much greater 

 size in Canada than in the United States ; this last species grew in abun- 

 dance and appeared to be constant in its characteristics. Crataegus sp. 

 14 Herb., a small tree and very different from the former, the fruit small 

 but very numerous; they must have a fine effect in the early part of 

 summer. Alliumsp. 1, growing under the trees in rich soil, roots small but 

 very acrid, stem 14 inches high, the leaves were dead. In the middle of 

 the island, in rich soil, I found Lonicera sp. 57 Herb. : the leaves 

 were almost yellow, very large, woolly underneath, the wood strong ; 

 the birds had devoured all the berries, which prevented me from having 

 it in my power to carry it in that state. I then secured plants of it ; all 

 plants grew luxuriantly, but by no means common. I hope it is Caprifolium 

 pubescens 1 of Hooker ; I feel anxious to see them in a garden in London. 

 Hordeum sp. on the margin of the river, Lobelia inflata in open places where 

 it was a little wet. I crossed the river and secured the plants of Rosa and 

 Lonicera, and put away my specimens and seeds. In the evening I called 

 on Mr. Briscoe for the purpose of soliciting his advice as to the most likely 

 places of affording a harvest. He strongly recommended a visit to the Kiver 

 Thames, as also did his friend Eob. Kichardson, M.D., physician for the 

 Indian department. (Dr. R. knew Captain Sabine when he was at Stamford 

 on the Niagara.) He kindly offered to take me in his car as far as Sand- 

 wich, which is fifteen miles from Amherstburg. As there was no time to 

 lose, I proposed to start in the morning. These proposals being agreed 

 to, we parted at 10 o'clock P.M. 



Thursday, September I&th. I set out in the morning in company with 

 Dr. Richardson for Sandwich, on the east bank of the River Detroit. For 

 three miles up from Amherstburg the ground is thickly covered with wood 



1 The authority for Caprifolium pubescens is Goldie, and it is so figured by Hooker, 

 Exotic Flora, vol. i. t. 27 ; but is referred to Lonicera hirsuta, by A. Gray, Syn. Fl. 

 N. Am. i. n. p. 17. 



