Introduction . 
In the summer of 1913, the writer made a botanical collecting trip 
to Sable Island, Nova Scotia. The journey was taken at the sugges- 
tion of Prof. Merritt L. Fernald, without whose continued inspiration 
and practical assistance, its results iould scarcely have been brought 
together in the present report. There are many other acknowledg- 
ments to make, especially to Dr. B. L. Robinson, who arranged to 
have the writer go as a collector from the Gray Herbarium, and who 
has forwarded in every way the completion of the work. Miss INIary 
A. Day Librarian of the Gray Herbarium, has frequently been of 
great assistance, especially in bibliographical matters. The writer 
wishes particularly to express his thanks to the responsible Canadian 
Government officials because of their constant readiness to make the 
expedition possible and pleasant. Unless a shipwrecked waif, one 
may not land on Sable Island without a permit from the Go\ ernment. 
Mr. A. Johnston, Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries, of Otta- 
wa, and Mr. C. H. Harvey, Agent of Marine and Fisheries, at Hali- 
fax, gave permission to visit the island and arranged for transporta- 
tion on Government steamers. The Superintendent of Sable Is- 
land, Capt. J. U. Blakeney, both officially and personally, was help- 
ful in every way possil)le, as were the members of the staff of the Life 
Saving Stations, the Lighthouses, and the Marconi Station. In Hal- 
ifax by good fortune it was possible to meet Mr. Robert J. Bouteillier, 
former Superintendent of Sable Island. His unusual intelligence and 
keen powers of observation had given him during his long period of 
residence 28 years, an unrivalled knowledge of Sable Island and its 
phenomena. This knowledge he has fre(inently shared. To the 
late Mr. J. M. Macoun of the Canadian Geological Sur\ I'v and to Dr. 
H. T. Giissow of the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, thanks are 
extended for the loan of specimens. Mr. Ktlwin K. Jump has kindly 
read part of the manuscript and checked it with his intensive knowl- 
edge of the history of Sable Islanil. The accompanying i)lates were 
drawn by INIr. F. S(lui\lcr Mathews. 
