LAWSON NOTES ON SOME NOVA SCOTIAN PLANTS. 171 



at Dartmouth, and possibly other places, the stations for the plant 

 are artificial, but the plants are probably native, having been trans- 

 ferred from one spot to another, or grown from seed dropped by 

 plants that were so transferred ; and, lastly, that the various 

 traditions as to the foreign origin of the heather, are not unlikely 

 to have been suggested by the desire to account for the presence of 

 what was regarded as necessarily a foreign plant, rather than by 

 actual historical facts. I think it not at all improbable that the 

 Newfoundland and Cape Breton heathers may in reality be perfect- 

 ly wild (indigenous), although popular local traditions attribute to 

 them a foreign origin. 



Sarothamnus Scoparius. 



Whilst making enquiries respecting the alleged occurrence of 

 heather in various places, Professor Lawson obtained information 

 regarding several other interesting plants. One of these is the 

 English Broom, {Sarothamnus Scoparius), which Professor Mc- 

 Donald informed him grew in some abundance on Boularderie 

 Island, Cape Breton, on the property of Mr. Gemmell, at Little 

 Bras d'Or. He subsequently heard from Judge Smith and Mr. 

 Stephens of Halifax, of its occurrence to the westward, either in 

 Queen's County or Shelburne. Judge Smith had seen it growing, 

 and Mr. Stephens had seen bunches of it brought to Halifax on 

 board the " M. A. Starr." Prof. Lawson's latest informant was 

 Mr. Peter Jack, who has visited the place, aud has kindly furnish- 

 ed the following particulars : 



' ' Having heard that Broom was growing rather plentifully in 

 the neighboui'hood of Shelburne, I took the opportunity of visiting 

 the place last fall when waiting for the steamer for Halifax. The 

 place is about two miles from Shelburne on the road to Halifax. 

 The property is owned by a colored man who was from home, but 

 his wife, Mrs. Jackman, took me to the spot. She takes a great 

 pride in the broom, and is well pleased to show it to visitors, of 

 whom there are several each year, for its fame has gone abroad. 

 Tt grows principally in one place, at some distance from the road, 

 and in a sheltered position, covering about a quarter of an acre. 



