80 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 
over the land break the bitter blasts of winter, and moisten the 
scorching breath of the summer breezes, and so in both summer and 
winter is the land fitted for what it is—the Garden of Canada. There 
is no use in disguising the fact that the careless habits of the last 
generation have been the making of the present, and if the country 
from Hamilton to Niagara-on-the-Lake was so completely de-forested 
as in the we//-cleared lands of Ontario, its boasted title of the Garden 
of Canada would be a misnomer. 
Nowhere in the Province have I seen finer specimens of the 
various species of cvategus (white thorn), than on the common at 
Niagara-on-the-Lake. A botanical student can there distinguish 
very readily the cock-spur Thorns (crategus ems-gath) from the 
various forms of the Scarlet-fruited Thorn (cvategus coccinea). Ali 
the forms have become beautifully-shaped trees with wide-spreading 
crowns, and are marvels of beauty when in flower or when Jaden with 
mature fruit. Near the upper part of the open ground are some fine 
specimens of the Sour Gum (Wyssa Mu/tiflora) which would be 
ornaments anywhere and at anytime, but seen when in full flower 
with its glossy light-green leaves,in the latter part of June, it is a 
charming object. This is by no means a rare tree, but seems to be 
very little known, although it is common on Queenston Heights and 
in many parts of Essex and Elgin Counties. 
The oaks in numerous species are found scattered all over the 
peninsula, but each species has its own particular habitat. The 
species common to almost all soils are White Oak (guercus alba) 
and two Black Oaks (Q. rubra and coccinea). On the river banks 
and scattered through the country are two species, the Mossy Cup 
Oak, (Q. macrocarpa) and the Swamp White-oak (Q. dzcolor). These 
species are very often taken the one for the other, but when in fruit 
they are easily distinguished by the latter having long-peduncled fruit. 
while the other has the mossy-fringed cup which gives to it its trivial 
name. On the river bank between the Whirlpool and Foster’s Flats 
are groves of Chestnut Oak (Q. Prinus, Linn.) that would be taken for 
Chestnut (Castanea vulgaris, var. Americana) by a common observer, 
so much are they alike. While the latter tree is in flower, however, 
about the middle of July, it cannot be mistaken for anything else 
Owing to its great bunches of catkins (barren flowers) near the ends 
of its branches. A very beautiful and valuable oak is the Swamp 
Oak or Pin Oak (Q. palustris) which delights, as its name indicates, 
