86 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



drained by a branch of Burnt river, have approximately the same 

 area. Water forms 11.7 per cent of the total area of the township. 



Topography. — The highest points and most rugged topography of 

 the township are found in the outcrop of volcanic rock lying west of 

 Kashagawigamog and Soyers lakes. The rest of the township has the 

 usual dissected plateau appearance. 



Rock and Soil. — The greater portion of the township is underlain 

 by crystalline limestone, with the usual intrusions of gneissic and 

 homblendic rock. A large outcrop of volcanic rock appears in the 

 central portion of the township. Its crest forms the watershed be- 

 tween the two principal streams and the contact between it and the 

 limestone is marked by a pronounced escarpment, especially along the 

 western side of the outcrop. The northwestern portion of the town- 

 ship, west of Mountain and Twelve-mile lake is underlain by gneissic 

 granite. The eastern two-thirds of Minden is deeply covered with glacial 

 drift, and the soil varies from a clay loam, through sandy loam to al- 

 most pure sand, the poorer upland soils being in the southern portion 

 of the township. Excellent farm soils are found on the first terraces of 

 the lakes, and on the flood plains of the streams, especially along Gull 

 river. The soils within the granite area, except in the stream valleys, 

 are thin and sandy. 



Forest Conditions. — Minden was originally covered with hard- 

 woods, except for the sandy terraces along the streams and lakes, which 

 were covered with pine. This forest is now, for the most part, repre- 

 sented by severely culled wood-lots, which constitute 44.4 per cent 

 of the area. About 14 per cent of the hardwood type has been 

 only moderately culled. The largest block of this lies west of Twelve- 

 mile lake. The mixed type occupies 4.3 per cent of the area, while 

 only 1.6 per cent is coniferous, and this is mostly spruce-balsam swamp 

 ^not pine. Only 18.1 per cent of the township is composed of the 

 poplar-birch type, and this probably represents the extent of the original 

 pineries. 



Dysart Township 



Watersheds. — Burnt river and its tributaries carry the surface 

 waters of Dysart into the canal. The eastern extension of the northern 

 tributary is called the Haliburton river, while Burnt river proper 

 drains the southern portion of the township. The largest body of water 

 is Kashagawigamog lake, which extends into the township from Minden 

 and Grass lake. Together they present a water surface of about 820 

 acres. 



Topography. — The southern half of the township is of the broad 

 plateau type, with the most dissected part in the eastern portion. 



