MacMillan: shores at lake of the woods. 963 



strobus on the richer soil of crevices or on clayey loams rather 

 than upon barren rocks or sand or in marshes or swamps is 

 largely a matter of topography. Before proceeding, then, to 

 an analysis of the different plant formations established along 

 shore at Lake of the Woods, it will be well to observe in a gen- 

 eral way what species of plants have taken possession of the 

 region. It is not by any means my intention to furnish here a 

 long list of species and varieties; all that will be necessary to 

 exhibit is a list of dominant plants on a few selected shores. 

 Four such shores have been chosen. Of these Oak point is 

 near the mouth of the Rainy river and faces the surf of the 

 Grand Traverse towards the N. W. while toward the S. E. it is 

 washed by the waters of a quiet bay. Sandy beach is opposite 

 Garden Island, on the Northwest Angle and the back country is 

 almost entirely composed of impassable spruce and tamarack 

 swamps or muskeg. Isle aux Sables is the name given to what 

 is really a chain of sand dunes lying near the S. E. shore of 

 the lake and north of the mouth of the Rainy river. Big island 

 point is the N. W. point of this island about due E. of Garden 

 Island. It is a high rocky promontory clothed with mosses 

 and lichens but with many crevice j)lants of higher types. 



