The Problem of Sable Island. 



F. W. H. Jacombe, M.A., M.F. 



The Dominion Experimental Farms report 

 for 1910 contains an interesting reference 

 to the results of the planting done some 

 twelve years ago (May and June, 1901), de- 

 scribed at length in the report for the year 

 referred to. Unfortunately the final report 

 is an unfavourable one, only a few of the 

 trees and plants then planted having sur- 

 vived. 



Sable Island is one of the most dangerous 

 spots on the eastern Canadian coast-line. It 

 is formed entirely of white sand, and lies 

 about ninety miles from the nearest point on 

 the Nova Scotia coast, and about 153 miles 

 from Halifax. 



Its area has been considerably reduced 

 by the action of wind and water on the 

 sand. The present length of the island is 

 about twenty-one miles, and its width, at 

 its widest point, somewhat over a mile. 

 Early surveys gave the length of the island 

 as forty miles and its width two miles and 

 more. Dangerous shoals and sand-bars ex- 

 tend on all sides, and the strong currents 

 from north and south often carry vessels 

 out of their cours-e, while, in addition to 

 this, fogs are frequent; naturally wrecks are 

 many. The planting was undertaken, at the 

 request of the Marine Department, chiefly 

 with the object of preventing the damage 

 done to the islan<l by the wind. Naturally, 

 the further the destruction of the island is 

 carried, the greater becomes the danger 

 from the shoals and sand-bars. 



No trees grow naturally on the island. 

 The choice of species to be planted was 

 based largely on observations made by Dr. 

 Wra. Saunders (then Director of Experi- 

 mental Farms) on a visit to Brittany, 

 France, where much work in the reclaiming 

 of sand-dunes has been done. 



The species and numbers of each species 

 planted on the i8lan<l were as follows: 

 Pinus pinaster (maritima), (cluster pine), 

 10,000; Pinus sylvestris (Scotch pine), 10,- 

 000; Pinus sylvestris rigaensis (Riga pine), 

 10,000; Pinus laricio nigricans (Austriaca), 

 (Austrian pine), 10,000; Pinus montana 

 (Mountain pine), 5,000; Pinus montana 

 mughus (Dwarf mountain pine), 2,500; 

 Pinu8 strobus (White pine), 2,500; Picea 

 excelsa (Norway spruce), 10,000; Abies 

 balsamea (Balsam Fir), 2,500; Picea cana- 

 densis (White spruce), 2,500; Picea mariana 

 (Black Bpruce), 1,000; Juniperus virginiana, 

 (Red cedar), 1,000; Juniperus communis, 

 (Common juniper), 1,000; Thuja occident- 

 alis, (Eastern Arbor- vitae), 500. Of the 

 broad-leaved species there were used the fol- 

 lowing: Manitoba maple, (Acer Negundo), 

 500; Acer platanoides (Norway maple), 

 500; Betula alba (European white birch), 

 2,000; Oleditsia triacanthos (Honey locust). 



2,000; Salix longifolia (Long-leaved wil- 

 low), 1,000. Planting was started on May 

 18th, the trees being found in good condi- 

 tion, in spite of having been packed up for 

 six weeks. 



The first plantation was made on a sandy 

 bluff near the north shore, fairly well cov- 

 ered with the common sand-binding grass 

 {Arenaria ammophila), the trees being 

 planted two and a half to three feet apart 

 each way in a soil composed of pure sand. 



One considerable area, to which the name 

 of Gourdeau Park was given, was found to 

 be covered to the depth of t-^everal inches 

 with a black, peaty i?oil, mixed with sand 

 and underlaid with pure sand. On this were 

 growing common juniper (Juniperus com- 

 munis), cranberry (Empetrum nigrum), wax 

 myrtle (Myrica cerifera), blueberry (Vacci- 

 niuni), wild rose and other plants. The 

 X)lanting was completed on June 17. Arti- 

 ficial fertilizers were used to some extent, 

 these comprising nitrate of soda, muriate of 

 potash, superphosphate of lime and quick- 

 lime. Sea-bird droppings were plentiful all 

 over the island. In * Gourdeau Park ' the 

 soil was ploughed. 



The climate of the island is not extreme.. 

 During the years 1898 to 1901 (inclusive) 

 the highest temperature registered by the 

 thermometer was 78 degrees Fahrenheit and 

 the lowest 5 degrees Fahrenheit . The winds, 

 however, are very high and constant and 

 gales are frequent. 



At the End of the First Season. 



From August 13 to October 3 the weather 

 was very dry, and from September 21 to- 

 September 26 a continuous gale blew, 

 ranging in direction from southwest to 

 north, which * burned ' the leaves off the 

 deciduous trees. All the pines, however, 

 except the white pine, looked well and had. 

 made a good growth. Some of the spruces 

 survived but few looked promising. 



A memorandum prepared by Mr. Boutel- 

 lier, the superintendent of the island, for 

 the Director of Experimental Farms, on 

 March 23, 1910, summarized the result of 

 the plantations: At 'Station No. 4,' where 

 2,000 trees and shrubs were planted, he 

 found alive but fifteen Austrian pine, five 

 mountain pine, sixteen Scotch pine, twelve 

 maritime (cluster) i)ine, two Norway spruce 

 an<l one black spruce. 'They were all 



spread out on the ground,' the memoran- 

 dum runs, 'and were about one foot high. 

 In summer they run up to the top of the 

 rank grass that grows around them, per- 

 haps quite two feet.' At 'No. 3 Station,' 

 where 5,000 plants and shrubs were planted, 

 the only one mentioned in the report is a 



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