Bee 
180 THe Ottawa NarTUuRALIST. ' [December 
not as strong as those farther out, and which the sediment and 
silt are rapidly filling up. The two small islands stand at the 
mouth of this bayou and have been formed as bars by the currents 
of the river. 
The white-wzshed stone house is the first object to attract 
the eye of a casual visitor, for it has a peculiar appearance, char- 
acteristic of many of the old. French Canadian houses seen in 
many parts of the country. Its stone walls are nearly three feet 
thick, its long concave roof projects far beyond the walls to form 
the covering of the verandah, and its upper dormer windows stand 
out half-way up the roof. It was built more than one hundred 
and fifty years ago, and its age should of itself invite questions. 
Locally the house is known as ‘‘ The Chateau,” and has been for 
several generations the homestead of a large French Canadian 
farm. 
The large number of medium-sized trees with abundant 
foliage make this property a delightful place during the hot days 
in summer. Unfortunately, no evergreens had been planted by 
the former owners, so there is little or no protection in the winter 
from the cold, penetrating winds. The trees were likely planted 
at different times, for the slow-growing white elms are almost as 
tallas the morc rapid-growing white ashes, soft maples and cotton- 
woods or poplars. Here are good opportunities for a comparison 
of the habits of these common trees :—their general appearance 
from a distance, their manner of branching, their bark, their 
leaves and leaf arrangement, their fruits, and also thet ‘insect 
and fungous enemies, etc. 
Perhaps the most interesting plants flourish in the shallow. 
water along the river bank. There the plants are plainly grouped 
into formations, or zones, running parallel with the shore, each 
characterized by certain dominant species. For example, on the 
low bank are low willows and swamp maples; nearer the water, 
yet on the sandy beach, are joe-pye weed, elodes and water hore- 
hound. In the water along the shore are sweet- flags, cats tails, 
bulrushes and arrow-leafs ; in deeper water are pond lilies and 
Indian rice; and in yet deeper water are the pond-weeds and bass- 
weeds (see diagram where each zone is called after its dominant, 
plant). Such a shore plant- society deserves and well repays care- 
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