THE HEATHER IN AMERICA. 



velopment, it has never been found at points remote 

 from human habitation, are much against the theory 

 of its indigenous character. 



"The occurrence of the Heather in Nova Scotia, 

 Newfoundland and Greenland, has been adduced as 

 strong evidence in favor of believing the plant na- 

 tive in America. But Nova Scotia was settled in 

 part by Scotch, who would have been particu- 

 larly likely to introduce the Heather accidentally, if 

 not purposely; while in Newfoundland a region of 

 great stretches of open moorland, and seemingly an 

 ideal habitat for the Heather the plant has only been 

 found in a few patches about the settlements on the 

 southeastern coast, the most thickly populated part of 

 the island. Finally, the occurrence in Greenland, al- 

 though reported, could not be confirmed by Lange, the 

 author of the most complete flora of that region. It 

 will thus be seen that these northern occurrences add 

 little to the evidence that the Heather is an indig- 

 enous American plant." 



This is also the view held by Dr. Goodale, of 

 Harvard University, who has given considerable study 

 to the subject. 



In the first week of August, 1902, the author vis- 

 ited the spot near Tewksbury, Mass., where the Heather 

 is growing, and found the conditions much as described 

 by Mr. Rich. Patches of the plant were seen scat- 

 tered among the dense vegetation surrounding them, 

 and in one or more instances bushes had succumbed 

 from some cause or other, probably our trying vari- 

 able spring weather, and seemed to be "stricken in 

 days." Those remaining were of comparatively low 



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