Volume 12 Number 12 



The Plant World 



A Magazine of General Botany 

 DECEMBER, 1909 



SUCCESSIONAL RELATIONS OF THE VEGETATION 

 ABOUT YARMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA. 



By Edgar N. Transeau. 



The following observations on the plant formations of the 

 southwestern coast of Nova Scotia were made in the vicinity of 

 Yai mouth during the months of August and September, 1907. 

 Most of the time was spent on the islands and peninsula which 

 separate Yarmouth Harbor from the Bay of Fundy. The coast 

 was visited as far north as Port Maitland and as far east as 

 Tusket. 



The coast is characterized by high, rocky seacliffs with nu- 

 merous indentations. Some of the promontories were originally 

 islands which have now become connected with each other and 

 with the mainland by bars. Inside the bars tidal flats and salt- 

 marshes are in process of extension. In a reentrant just north 

 of Yarmouth Light aggradation has raised the soil sufficiently to 

 afford a foothold for bog vegetation. The higher levels about 

 Cape Fourchu also present depressions in which the bog asso- 

 ciations are dominant. At Tusket extensive areas of bog occur. 



Without going into the details of climatic conditions, the 

 region is characterized by cool summers, abundant rains and 

 frequent fogs. The rate of evaporation is very low as shown by 

 the very moist condition of the soil in the most exposed situations. 

 These facts together with the prevalence of strong winds are 

 largely responsible for the limited flora and the vegetation types. 

 It should also be mentioned that these conditions are character- 

 istic only of the coast, becoming notably drier a few miles inland. 



The forest is composed almost exclusively of black spiuce. 

 Three or four miles inland these are mixed with other conifers 

 and broad-leafed hardwoods. The successions here outlined are 



