CHURCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS. 43 C 



States. Cedar brushwood grows around Cedar Lake on the Great 

 Saskatchewan, near its mouth, and trees of fair size are reported to 

 occur on the island in Lake Winnipeg opposite the mouth of this river, 

 and again on the south side of Long Point, in the same neighbourhood. 

 I have not seen these cedars myself, but they are described as belong- 

 ing to this species. The locality just mentioned would, therefore, 

 constitute an outlying patch, removed 190 miles to the north-westward 

 of the north-western point of the main area occupied by this tree. 



Willow. — What appear to be three distinct species of willows, two of 

 which, however, can only be considered as shrubs, extend northward 

 beyond the mouth of the Churchill River, and are the most northern 

 species of deciduous wood. 



Balsam Poplar (" Kough-barked Poplar," " Cotton Tree," "Balm of 

 Gilead," &c). — On the west side of Hudson's Bay this is the most 

 northern species of poplar. It is abundant around York Factory, and 

 attains a fair size along the lower part of the Nelson River. In 

 descending the Great Churchill it becomes smaller and scarcer until 

 the mouth of the river is reached, where it is rare. 



Aspen (Trembling-leafed Poplar). — This tree, which is so abundant 

 and of such a thrifty growth around the southern part of James' Bay 

 and on the border of the prairie regions of the North-west Territories, 

 does not extend quite as far north as York Factory. In ascending the 

 Nelson River it was not met with until within a few miles of the 

 Lowest Limestone Rapid. It extends northward nearly to the junction 

 of the Little with the Great Churchill River. 



White Birch (Canoe Birch). — This species terminates on Hayes' 

 River, a few miles below the Steel River. On the Nelson, the first 

 tree was met with at seven miles before coming to the Lowest Lime- 

 stone Rapid, or at seventy from Point of Marsh. In descending the 

 Little Churchill it disappeared about midway between the Recluse 

 Lakes and the mouth, and in ascending the Great Churchill, it disap- 

 peared at eighteen miles above the forks. Along the Burntwood River 

 and the upper, part of the Nelson it is large enough for building- 

 canoes, but becomes better for this purpose to the northwestward, and 

 is said to be very good around Lake Athabasca. 



Rowan (Mountain Ash). — Common along the east side of Lake Win- 

 nipeg, and it is seen here and there along the Nelson River as far as 

 White Mud Falls, where it disappears. Mr. Cochrane met with it on 

 Island Lake. 



Pigeon Cherry. — Found around Island and God's lakes, and northward 

 to Knee Lake. On the Nelson it extends to a point some miles below 



