ST. JOHN: SABLE ISLAND. 55 
miles east of main station, is most promising, and next is 4th station 
plot. In all plots planted the weeds and grass has grown freely, and 
I am satisfied now that this is best for the trees; it gives shelter. If 
the ground had been kept clear the drifting sand would abrade the 
bark, and it is very noticeable that trees do best where sheltered by 
grass or wild plants. In 'Gourdeau Park' there is shelter owing to 
the conformation of the ground, and the slopes have different expos- 
ures. I find where the slopes are exposed to the south-west and west 
winds (our prevailing winds) the trees are least promising." 
In the following year, Dr. Saunders in an additional report' gave 
the latest news concerning the plantation on Sable Island. The first 
letter received in 1902 was written May 26. In this Mr. Bouteillier 
says, "I will give you the latest news of the trees. Our winter has 
been very mild; not much snow and not much frost. When a cold 
snap occurred it was followed by enough mild weather to take all the 
frost out of the ground. March was very mild; Ai)ril was cold and 
windy, and that has continued up to a week ago. Many pines that 
seemed to stand the winter went red in March and April, and many 
that turned color have recovered and are putting out new buds. 
Survivors of Austrian, Mountain and Maritime pines are the most 
promising, and those that are not doing well are the small specimens; 
nearly all the larger ones planted are killed. A few spruces of all 
kinds sur\ive, Itut they are not promising. Of the arbor vitae only 
a few are living. Juniper of both kinds nearly all dead; perhaps four 
or five survivors. 
"Of the Maritime ])ines raised from the seed you brought, tiiese 
were killed wherever they were scattered on the bare groimd. l)Ut 
where they came U}) among the grass they are growing finely in this 
shelter, and there are thousands now green and jjutting out new buds. 
When sowing these I j)ut them in thick, and after they came uj) 1 
thought that in sj)()ts they were too thick; but this was their salvation, 
as the winds sul»se(iuently killed those on the outside, while those in 
the middle of these bunches were i)rotected and li;i\t' reniaiiied green. 
"The deciduous trees were killed down from the top, some to the 
ground, others killed outright, but they are no exceptions, all are 
killed at least half way down. Iiiciiided in these are /*///;/.s' pnnii- 
Jolui, P. baccata, Canujuim arhon .la it.s- and Sih t>r l\)i)lar. .Ml these 
deciduous sorts put out leaves a month ago, but lately we have had 
'Saunders, Win.: Kei)()rts iVom Sable Island in I'.KVJ, /. c. r>[\ ')S (1902). 
