NOTES ON NEWFOUNDLAND. 267 



miglit visit on foot any post along shore within seventy 

 miles to the north-east. 



The chilling effect of this proximity to the southern 

 passage of ice through so large a portion of the year 

 is readily perceptible on the vegetation in this part of 

 the island. The stunted character of the deciduous 

 trees (of few species compared with their representatives 

 on the eastern shores of the mainland) and of the spruces, 

 the absence of the broad-leaved maple, with which the 

 continental forests are enriched, and the nakedness of 

 the dull grey rocks, give an air of dreariness to the 

 country, which it seems at first to the stranger im- 

 possible to shake off. 



From comparative observations I should assign a 

 fortnight as the difference in the progress of vegetation 

 between Nova Scotia and the country round St. John's. 

 On July 14 th, the common lilac, long since faded in the 

 gardens at Halifax, was here found in full bloom. On 

 the 18th I observed various Vaccinese, the purple iris, the 

 pigeon-berry, and Smilacina bifolia in flower, and the 

 kalmia just coming out, indicating fully the difference of 

 season already stated. 



Although in the interior, and especially on the western 

 side of the island, Newfoundland can boast of forests, 

 but little wood deserving that name appears in the vicinity 

 of St. John's. The wilderness is generally covered with 

 low alder bushes and thickets of white sprace (Abies alba), 

 with a scanty mixture of balsam fii\ A few small white 

 birch, willows of several species, and one description of 

 maple (Acer montanum), with the Amelanchier, or Indian 

 pear, and wild cherry, constitute the bulk of the deci- 

 duous vegetation. The swamps (of great extent and 



