FORESTS. 49 



which the present forests are frequently spoken of as the original growth, 

 and destroyed an earlier forest then existing. 



This northern country offers obstructions to the explorer such as can 

 probably be met with elsewhere only in tropical countries. It is compara- 

 tively easy to travel tlii-ough the forests of standing Norway and white 

 pine, for here one finds but sparse undergrowth ; but only a very small part 

 of the district is covered by such open forest; the greater portion, especially 

 in this western part, is covered by exceedingly dense forests of birch, 

 balsam, and jack pine, with undergrowth that is almost impenetrable in 

 places. Between the areas of high ground covered with the above- 

 mentioned forest growth there lie some swampy areas of tamarack and 

 cedar and open muskegs. During wet years, many of tliese swamps are 

 flooded, so that in crossing them one wades in water 2 to 3 feet deep. 

 Windfalls have destroyed vast patches of timber and have left the trunks 

 piled upon one another in inextricable confusion, and a second growth in 

 places adds further to the entanglement and increases the difficulties of 

 the traveler. One inexperienced in a country of this character would feel 

 that the task were well-nigh hopeless were he called upon to leave the 

 canoe routes and beaten trails and exi^lore this wilderness. It sometimes 

 requires two hours to advance a mile, and to run a line 5 miles in length 

 and explore the area for a few hundred yards on both sides is a good day's ' 

 work. 



In this western portion of the district there are a number of very 

 extensive wild cranberry marshes and other marshes that would be suitable 

 for the cultivation of cranberries. There seems, indeed, to be no good 

 reason why these marshes should not be improved and cranberries grown 

 upon them for the market. In other States such marshes have proved a 

 good investment, and it would seem that a good ojjportunity for their 

 development is offered in this district. 



The eastern half of the Vermilion district may be spoken of as the 

 burned area. In it there are but a few isolated and very small patclies 

 of large timber. This portion of the district seems to have been frequently 

 swept by fires, and at present the growth covering- it is, with few exceptions, 

 very small. It is probable that the character of the ground has been a promi- 

 nent factor in determining the size of the second growth. This portion of 

 the district as a whole is very rocky, and the drift and the soil are much 

 MON XLV — 03 4 



