ST. JOHN: SABLE ISLAND. 47 
Subclass B. Species characteristic of western Europe, not known 
in Iceland, Greenland, or Labrador, but occurring on Sable Island, 
and usually on St. Pierre, Miquelon, and the Avalon Peninsula of 
Newfoundland. This includes 4 plants = 3 per cent, of the flora. 
They are: Potamogeton polygonifolius Pourret, J uncus bulbosus L., 
Polygonum Rail Bab., and Centaurium umbellatum Gilib. 
The 8 plants which are not included in any of these classes are either 
members of critical groups now under revision, or recently described 
species whose ranges are as yet imperfectly known. 
Forestry Experiments. 
Since 1801, the government of Nova Scotia, and later that of Can- 
ada have maintained one or more Life Saving Stations on Sable Island. 
The buildings of these establishments have been constantly threat- 
ened with destruction, either by burial in the drifting sand, or by be- 
ing engulfed in the waves of a severe storm that might wash away the 
very site on which the buildings stand. Under these circumstances 
it is not strange that an attempt was made to hold in place the drift- 
ing sand hills that compose the island. 
In 1900, Sir Louis Da vies. Minister of Marine and Fisheries, re- 
quested William Saunders, Director of the Dominion Experimental 
Farms, " to consider the subject of a somewhat extensive experiment 
in tree planting on Sable Island." That same year Dr. Saunders* 
in company with Lieut. -Col. F. F. Gourdeau visited the seacoast of 
Brittany, "to see the results of the planting of pine forests there on 
the drifting sands on the ocean shores, to gain information as to the 
methods adojjted in planting and the varieties of trees which have 
been successfull\- grown. * * * 
"On returning to Ottawa a list of such sorts as were likely to be 
suitable was prepared with quantities desired. The trees and shrubs 
chosen included a large number of those which have succeeded well 
in drifting sands in France to which were added a number of other 
varieties which from Canadian experience were likely to prove use- 
ful for that purpose. Small lots of many other species were added to 
lend interest to the collection and to test their hardiness and adapt- 
ability to the cliiuatc of Sable Island. This list iiuhidcd in all 
^ Saunders, Wm. : Experiments in Tree Planting on Sable Island, Do- 
minion I'Aporiinontal Farms, IJeport, 03-77 (1001). 
