6-7 EDWARD VII. 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 22a 



A. 1907 



VI- 



REPORT ON THE FLORA OF CANSO, NOVA SCOTIA. 



BY PKOF. JAMES FOWLEK, LL.D., F.K.S.C., QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY, 



KINGSTON. 



During the summer of 1901 tlie writer enjoyed the privilege of spending a part of 

 the season (June 28 to August 26) at Canso, N.S., collecting specimens of the 

 flora occurring in the neighbourhood. Through the kindness of Professor Ramsay- 

 Wright, assistant director, who had charge of the Biological Laboratory, he was fur- 

 nished with table, room and other conveniences, and was thus enabled to make it his 

 headquarters during his visit to the locality. The town of Canso is situated on the 

 most eastern point of the mainland of North America south of Labrador, at the en- 

 trance to Chedabucto bay, on the sixtieth degree of longitude, and nearly due south 

 of the town of Arichat on Isle Madame. It is consequently exposed to the cool, damp 

 winds and frequent fogs of the Atlantic coast. The district around is composed very 

 largely of barren rocks and bogs varied by the presence of a few huge mounds of 

 glacial debris. Two of these, rising respectively to the height of 119 and 117 feet, 

 furnish an imposing background to the eastern part 'of the town. Every visitor who 

 wanders over these heights on a clear summer day must be impressed by the grandeur 

 of the view. Northwards the eye wanders over a vast extent of sea and islands across 

 the bay to Isle Madame in Cape Breton; on the west and south the expanse of rock 

 and bog and hill stretches away to the distant horizon, and on the east a few islands 

 lie near the shore, and the great ocean stretches away beyond. The large number of 

 fishing vessels and boats in the harbour at all times give it a very lively and pleasing 

 appearance. 



PECULIARITIES OF THE VEGETATION. 



1. The first peculiarity that attracts the attention of the visitor, especially if he 

 is interested in botanical pursuits, is the almost total absence of trees as far as the 

 eye can see. No shade trees are planted, their absence being abundantly compensated 

 for by the cool sea breezes and fogs. Two species of European Willows (8alix 

 viminalis, L., and 8. fragilis, L.) are common near dwelling houses and seem to have 

 been introduced by the early settlers. The ancient forest has been all cleared away by 

 the axe and the fires of previous generations, and over a large area only bare rocks 

 and intervening bogs greet the eye. The glacial mounds, mentioned above, constitute 

 nearly the whole of the cultivated land and have been partially transformed into grass 

 fields. At Hazel Hill, about a mile and a half distant, the prospect is much more 

 cheerful. The beautiful houses erected by the Commercial Cable Company for their 

 employees, are situated on the side of a hill, and command an extensive view of hills 

 and lakes and barren plains and bogs. 



2. Another notable characteristic is the prevalence of low, stunted forms of vege- 

 tation, not only on the rocks, but on the shores and the hillsides. Herbaceous species 

 which should attain a height of two or three feet are dwarfed to a few inches, except 

 in specially sheltered positions. The most common species of pine (Pinus divaricata. 

 Ait., P. Banhsiana, Lambert) sends down its roots into the clefts of the rocks and 

 spreads over the surface, producing abundance of flowers and cones before it attains 



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