WINTER IN THE BACKWOODS 263 



occurrence : A shower of rain is rapidly succeeded 

 by severe frost, called ' silver frost,' when the 

 bare boughs of the deciduous-leaved trees and 

 evergreens become encrusted with ice, presenting 

 a very striking and beautiful appearance in sun- 

 light, just as if they were composed of as many 

 twigs of crystal, sparkling most splendidly. But 

 the effect is often fatal to the garden fruit-trees, 

 and such as are not natives of the region. I 

 was assured by a gentleman of much experience 

 in horticulture, that the plum-trees introduced 

 into the province from Europe rarely produce 

 fruit, and seem to deteriorate rapidly into 

 stunted growths, gnarled and covered with 

 excrescences. The effects of the cold winters 

 and hot summers of Canada are, however, noto- 

 rious with respect to such as, for instance, the 

 apple-tree, which has at length got so acclimatised 

 that individuals imported to England, although 

 seemingly not affected by the change in any 

 way, cannot be got to produce ripe fruit, for the 

 reason that the summers are not hot enough." 



It may be asked, " How do hunters, trappers, 

 and Indians find their way from place to place 

 without landmark or guide ? " " The Indians," 

 states Long (Voyages and Travels > page 28, 



