128 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [FEBRUARY _ 
tree. The prevalence of old white pine stumps beneath the present 
forests, as well as the numerous white pine stump fences throughout - 
the sand plains townships, contribute corroborative evidence. The 
original forest evidently contained some large trees, judged from 
present standards. THOMPSON (I. c.) states that he had observed trees 
52™ high, and adds that originally trees 43 to 55™ high, having a 
_ diameter of 2™, were not uncommon. Stumps in various stages of 
decay which were originally at least 1.5™ in diameter may be seen 
frequently on the sand plains. ees 
In the clearings for settlement the commercial use of white pme 
was strictly local and very limited. Later came the period of utiliza- 
tion on a larger scale. As early as 1800? great rafts of pine logs 
taken from the sand plains were floated down to Quebec and thence 
exported. In 1842 the historian THompson (i. c.) asserted that the 
forests of white pine in the Champlain region had practically dis- 
appeared. In 1850 (Davis, J. c.) the importation of white pine from 
Canada began. 
The pitch pine (Pinus rigida) doubtless occupied small scattered 
areas on the most sterile soils. Black oak and white oak (Quercus 
velutina and Q. alba) are now common on the sand plains, and they 
probably formed a minor part of both the original white pine and pitch 
pine forests. Norway pine (Pinus resinosa) is now very local in its 
distribution on the sand plains, and it probably always was so. No 
record is to be found in regard to white birch (Betula populijolia) ; 
for reasons to be discussed later it is doubtless much more abundant 
now than originally. 
Succession 
The succession on the Burlington, Colchester, and Essex sand 
plains is of two classes in respect to its place of origin, namely, upo? 
cut-over areas and upon abandoned cultivated fields. 
SUCCESSION ON CUT-OVER AREAS 
As stated above, historical evidence clearly indicates that white 
pine was orginally the controlling tree on the Burlington, Colchester, 
and Essex delta plains. Only isolated trees of the original stand now 
3 Davis, W. T., The New England states 3:1 524-1526. 
