Vegetahle Productions cif the Hudson'’ s Bay Countries. SI 5 
which the Cenomyce rangifer’ina^ Cetraria nivalis and cuculla- 
ta., and Cornicularia ochroleuca^ are predominant. The principal 
shrubs are the Vaccinium uliginosum^ Empetrum nigrum^ Ledum 
palustre, Betula glandtdosa^ and several Salices. The Vaccinium 
vitis Idaa^ Arbutus Uva Ur si and alpina, are very common, and 
the Andromeda polifolia^ and Kalmia glauca^ occur in almost 
every peaty spot. In sheltered situations, where the peat is deeper 
than usual, there are frequently a few starved larches and hlach 
spruces scattered. There are also some thin clumps of the Be- 
tula papyracea^ upon the borders of the rapids. The white 
spruce itself, which thrives better here than any other tree, is 
found only in sandy spots by the side of the river, or in valleys 
upon the borders of the lakes. Farther to the eastward, and 
more within the barren grounds., the trees disappear altogether ; 
but a little to the westward, upon the secondary and transition 
strata of the Coppermine River, the white spruce, in scattered 
clumps, attains the Lat. of 67° 34' N., within 13 miles of the 
Arctic Sea. Amongst the spruces cut down at Fort Entcrprize 
one of 
16 inches in circumference, had 45 annual rings. 
18 
ditto. 
90 
ditto. 
21 
ditto, 
90 
ditto. 
36 
ditto, 
130 
ditto ; 
the greatest increase 
being an 
inch of circumference in three 
years, and the least an inch in five years. The average is four 
rings or years, to an increase of 1 inch in circumference, or about 
1 inch of diameter in twelve years. The tree above mentioned, 
which measured 36 inches, was one of the best grown that was 
observed ; but some, with short crooked trunks, measured more. 
Our house was 24 feet wide ; and considerable difficulty was ex- 
perienced in obtaining half a dozen transverse beams long enough 
to support the roof, most of the trees tapering too much. The 
spruces seen near the mouth of the Coppermine, were about 
one-third of the size of those which grew at Fort Enterprize. In 
a few sheltered alluvial spots on the barren grounds, the Betida 
glandidosa was about 4 feet high, and in a warm crevice at the 
mouth of Hood’s River, Lat. 67 i°, Alnus glutinosaycci^ found 
growing to the height of 5 or 6 feet. 
p 2 
