I regret much, that my knowledge of this part of my subject, does not enable me to treat it scientifically, but feeling, that in a description of the Island, at least an attempt to bring its natural productions into notice will be expected, I must enter on it, though with diffidence, sensible that my knowledge thereof is very imperfect.

Beech (Fagus Sylvatica.) This tree grows in great abundance, probably better than one-half of the Island is covered with it, in some districts it forms nine-tenths of the forest, in others, it ii more mixed with other trees, its mast is produced in vast quantities in some seasons, the effects of which shall be mentioned hereafter, it is a large handsome forest tree the timber is sometimes exported, but the chief value of it at present, is for fire wood, for which, no other wood exceeds it.

Birch, of this we have four species, 1st. (betula alba), of this, there are two varieties, one is the tree common in parks in England, and in the Island is called grey birch, the other is a much handsomer tree, and of quicker growth, has a glossy smooth white bark, which divides into laminæ thin as cambric paper, and answers well to write on: in the forest this tree grows to a large size, the Indians forming canoes of the bark of a single tree, which will carry five or six people, the bark is also used for making various useful articles, such as buckets, bowls, and baskets, they are chiefly made by the Indians, and are sewed when cut to the shape intended, with small slips of the roots of black spruce trees, they are made to hold water, are light, and will last a long time: it is perhaps the only bark which is less liable to decay than the wood which it incloses, when the trees fall in the woods, the bark will remain entire many years after the tree is completely rotten; it is very inflammable, emitting a strong vivid flame, and a very thick black smoke, which might be easily condensed and collected in the form of oil. Many fine white birch trees grow in the old French cleared lands, in such situations, it is often a very ornamental tree, growing to a considerable size, and having a large spreading top with bright green leaves.

2d. Black Birch (betula nigra.) This is the largest of our deciduous trees, it is common all over the Island, where the original growth of timber has not been destroyed by fire; it is much used in all the northern countries in America for ship building, it is nearly of the colour of light mahogany, and takes as good a polish: it makes handsome bedsteads and chairs, but does not answer so well for tables. being apt to cast in that article. The exportation of this timber, has long been common from all the neighbouring countries and a few cargoes have recently been exported from this Island it is chiefly sent to Liverpool, and other ports in the north of England, and also to Scotland and Ireland, where it is much approved of, several attempts have lately been made to introduce it into the London market, but the timber merchants appear to be against it, and they have too much the command of the trade to render it practicable to introduce a new article without their concurrence.*

* A gentleman who lately imported a cargo of timber from the Island, consisting chiefly of this article, being informed that it was very fit for stocking fire arms, had a few muskets and fowling pieces stocked with it, by an eminent tradesman in that line in the City who making a favourable report of the timber, it was offered to Government, and these articles were sent to the Horse Guards, for the inspection of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, who was pleased to refer the matter to the Board of Ordnance, who sent them to the Tower; here the business turned out very different from what was expected, none of the customary means to secure a favourable reception had been resorted to, and a report was made against the justice of which, thousands can bear testimony, the timber being represented as inferior to common beech, and too soft to hold the screws; at this time walnut tree wood, which is commonly used for this purpose, was not to be had at any price, and this timber which is notwithstanding, the report, believed to be nearly equal thereto could have been supplied at one-third the usual cost of that article; while the musket and fowling piece sent to the Horse Guards, remained there, they were seen by several experienced officers, and the stocks much approved of: the gentleman is now convinced, that he began his application at the wrong end.

3d. Yellow Birch (betula lenta.) This often grows to a large tree, and is also used in ship building, It is strong and elastic, which makes it much used for many domestic articles; lands on which the original timber has been destroyed by fire, frequently grow up with yellow birch, these tracts afford a great deal of this timber, of a size fit for making hoops, for which it is very proper, wherever it grows in this manner, it indicates a better soil than when the young growth consists of white birch; yellow birch trees, growing single on old cleared lands are frequently very fine ornamental timber.

4th. Alder (betula alnus.) This seldom grows into a tree of any value: its bark dyes a good dark brown, it grows in low rich lands, and along the sides of creeks and rivulets.

Of the Maple we have three species, 1st. The White Maple (acer negundo) it is firm and smooth, and takes a fine polish, and is fit for many common purposes, it also affords sap for making sugar, but not so rich in quality as the rock or curled maple.

2d. The Red Maple (acer rubrum.) This tree is small and of no value, and is generally found growing in swamps.

3d, The rock or curled Maple (acer saccharinum.) This is frequently a large tree: the butts of many of them for six or eight feet from the ground, being finely curled, renders this timber extremely beautiful in cabinet work, as it is very close grained, and susceptible of a high polish: what is called the bird's eye maple is a variety of this tree. The chief value of the maple at present, arises from the quantity of sugar annually manufactured of its sap, the making of which generally commences about the 25th of March, and continues through the first ten days in April; the quantity made varies much in different years, and depends greatly on the weather at this period: the more snow there is on the ground, the trees run the greater quantity of sap, dark or rainy weather is unfavourable, the sap is produced in the greatest quantities in bright sun shiny days after a frosty night: To procure the sap a gap is cut in the tree with a common felling axe, this is from an inch and an half to three inches deep, and from six to eight inches long, slanting in the form of the letter V, and should face the south west; the sap will run freely from this gap, from the lower end of which it is guided into a trough placed below, by a chip driven into a slight cut just under the gap; a full grown tree will sometimes run upwards of two gallons a day; the persons employed in the business visit the trees frequently to see that the sap runs fairly into the troughs, and to collect it into barrels, which are placed conveniently for that purpose, in them it is drawn on hard sledges to the boiling place, or as it is called the sugar camp: the apparatus for boiling generally consists of three kettles, the largest double the size of the second, and that rather more than in the same proportion to the third, these are suspended over a large fire made in a temporary hut in the forest; the sap is first boiled in the large kettle, and removed into the others in succession, as it is reduced by boiling to the quantity each can contain; when removed into the second kettle the first is again filled with fresh sap, and boiling is continued in all the kettles which are filled up from each other; the liquor requires to be frequently skimmed; to prevent its rising suddenly over the kettle, a small bit of tallow or butter is occasionally thrown in: when the syrup in the smaller kettle appears of a proper consistency, it is poured into wooden moulds, the kettle is again filled up from the second, which is replenished from the larger and that is filled with fresh sap; a small quantity of lime water is sometimes put into the smaller kettle to promote its granulation. In every stage of the work much attention is required to make good sugar: before boiling the sap should be strained to clear it of chips and other adventitious substances. The sugar thus produced is by some rendered as white as the finest Muscovado sugar, but that is by no means generally the case, much of it being made in a very slovenly manner, is very dark coloured, extremely hard from too much boiling, difficult to break, and takes a long time to dissolve the manufacture upon the whole is in a very imperfect state in this Island, though it is certainly improving. When well made this sugar is an agreeable sweet, and answers all the purposes of common sugar; very good vinegar is also made by boiling three gallons of sap into one, and then fermenting it with yeast.

The sugar thus obtained from the maple is all clear gain, being made at a time when very little other out of door work can be performed Three smart lads working together, will often make one hundred weight each in the course of a fortnight, and sometimes in a favorable year more. The trees are found in more or less plenty all over the Island, where the original growth of forest remains; the greatest part of the inhabitants supply themselves with all the sugar they consume in this manner, and many have a good deal to dispose of.

The maple tree adds much to the beauty of our forest scenery in the Autumn, as the leaves of a single tree will assume every tint from green to rich crimson and bright scarlet colour.

Elm (ulnus americana) of this tree, I think we have only one species, and that not very common, nor in great plenty, in any part of the Island.

Oak of one kind only, (quercus rubra) or Red Oak, is in some districts of the Island, found in considerable quantity, and is said to be of a superior quality to the same species on the neighbouring Continent, I suspect from the different appearance of it in some districts from others, that we have more than one variety of this species, the value of this timber is much inferior to the white oak of the Continent.

Poplar or Aspen (populus tremula.) This tree is in some districts of the Island in great plenty, it is not an indication of good soil, the wood when green, is soft and white, it is much used for fencing, for which, when split into rails, it is more valuable than any other wood produced in the Island, being much more durable; when dry, it is extremely hard and light, and is very fit for some kinds of turner's work.

Swamp Willow (salix.) This is a very useless tree, never grows to any size, nor are its twigs of any value, being very brittle, it is the first tree that blossoms in the spring, and its white flowers are to be seen, when all the other trees retain their winter appearance.

Ash of two species. 1st. White Ash, or (fraxinus excelsior.) This is a valuable tree, but in no great quantity on the Island, it grows only in good land, is strait and tall, and sometimes found of a large diameter.

2d. Black Ash, or (fraxinus Americana.) This is a wood of very little value, the chief use to which it is put at present, is the making of baskets and brooms.

Pine, of this we have several species. 1st. The White Pine (pinus strobus) which in point of size, greatly exceeds all the other productions of the forest, being found three, four, and five feet diameter, and of a great height, I have seen one made into a main mast for a 64 gun ship, without any additions; but the number of large sticks fit for the navy, in any one district, is not so great as to make them an object worth the attention of government: the quantity of pine upon the Island is not abundant, it is no where to be found in large groves unmixed with other trees, as is frequently the case on the Continent.

2d. Yellow Pine (pinus pinea) is harder and heavier than the white pine, but never grows to the same size: the quantity of this wood on the Island is not great, and is chiefly confined to two or three districts of small extent.

3d. Pitch Pine (pinus toeda.) Of this we have very little, and of very inferior value, no attempts to extract tar from it have ever been made, that I am acquainted with, its knots and roots being full of terebinthin oil, afford a fine light when burning, and are sometimes used instead of candles.

4th. Larch (pinus larix.) This is the only tree of the terebinthine kind which sheds its leaves in autumn, its turpentine is said to have powerful medicinal qualities: I have seen it have very good effects in colds and coughs. The timber is valuable on account of its durability, making the best knees for ship building, and the best trunnels of any wood which grows in this climate.

5th. Fir (pinus balsamia.) This tree yields a fine balsam, contained in small blisters on the outside of the bark, (commonly known by the name of Canada balsam) it is used both internally and externally. The timber of this tree is coarse and brittle, and is seldom used where pine can be obtained, where the grain of a fir tree does not twist so much as to prevent its being split, it makes good rails for fencing, for which it is much used, and also for lath wood.

6th. Spruce (pinus canadensis.) Of this we have three varieties, 1st. the black spruce, which often grows into a large tree, fit for masts and spars: of the tops of this tree, the spruce beer, not so well known in England, is made. 2d. White Spruce, this is a wood of very little value, but being light, is sometimes used for spars and rafters, where that quality recommends it. 3d. Red Spruce, this wood is not so valuable as black spruce, but much superior to white spruce, it sometimes grows on old cleared lands which have been long out of cultivation, in which situation, it forms very ornamental groves, its figure being regularly conical, and feathered to the ground.

7th, Hemlock (pinus abies). This tree in size is next to the white pine, to which, however, it is much inferior; its chief value is for making wharfs or buildings in the water, in which situation it is more durimate; the bark is excellent for tanning leather, and the tops yield a medicine, which has been found very powerful in scorbutic complaints; some make a decoction of them, boiling them in the same manner as the tops of the black spruce, for making spruce beer, others bruise them and pour cold spring water upon them, which is allowed to stand twelve hours, and then poured off, when it will be found thick and ropy: I have seen this taken three times a day with great effect; a jill before breakfast, the same quantity an hour before dinner, and the like going to bed; it agrees well with the stomach and gives a powerful appetite.

Wild Cherry (prunus virginiana.) Of this we have several varieties, which have not yet been properly distinguished, but none of them are of any value, the only use ever made of them is to put them to spirits, for which they are said to answer as well as the best cherries, making good cherry rum and cherry brandy, the trees grow in great numbers in land newly cleared, unless kept down by its being cultivated, and are particularly fond of situations where the original timber has been destroyed by fire, they are of very quick growth, but never grow to a size to make their timber of any value, and do not live above fifteen or twenty years.

White Cedar (thuja occidentalis.) This tree is common only in the north west corner of the Island, where it occupies a considerable district, it is a very different tree from the red cedar of more southern climates.

Having gone through the catalogue of forest trees, I think it proper to observe, that the timber of the Island, is allowed to be much better than the like species on the neighbouring parts of the Continent, being of a finer, and closer grain and texture, not so subject to shakes and defects, the pines, black birch, beech, and maple, are also larger than they are generally found on the adjacent parts of the Continent.

It is not in my power to describe with scientific accuracy, the indigenous shrubs and vegetables of the Island; many of them are only known to me by trifling names which can convey no information, I shall therefore only briefly take notice of the most common.

The Black Currant (ribes nigrum) is very common in low rich moist land, and in its native state, is very harsh and disagreeable, whether it is susceptible of improvement by cultivation, I am not informed, no trials that I am acquainted with, having ever been made to cultivate them.

Wild Gooseberry (ribes grossularia) is also very common in the borders of the forest, and is often found in the old French cleared lands, they improve very much by cultivation, though they are far from disagreeable in their native state, and coming early, we have them for baking, for which they are very good, before any other fruit.

The Whortle Berry, or Blue Berry (vaccinium corymbosum) grows in great abundance in many districts, and is very good, a gallon of spirits resembling gin in flavour, has been distilled from a bushel of them, in some districts they are in such plenty, as to furnish the swine with their chief food for several weeks.

The Cranberry (vaccinium oxycoccos) grows on a small low creeping vine close to the ground, in the edge of marshes adjoining the upland, and in low, wet, poor, sandy land; the berries hang on very slender stalks, at first they are white but turn red as they ripen, and when full grown, are nearly the size of a common cherry, they remain without injury on the vines all winter, though they lose somewhat of their acid: They are much sought for exportation, as they keep a long time; as a sauce for the table they are generally preferred to any other acid fruit. There is another species of cranberry not so large, nor so pleasant a fruit, but growing in clusters on a very pretty looking shrub, it is very ornamental, the fruit remaining on long after the leaves are fallen, ill large bunches of a bright scarlet colour.

The Raspberry (rubus idæus) is found in the greatest plenty, wherever the forest is destroyed by fire, or the timber cut down, and the land left uncultivated he first thing it produces is the raspberry, which soon covers the whole surface of such places, the fruit is equal to any I ever saw in England, though growing wild, I never saw the white species produced but in one spot of small extent, at first I was inclined to think they had been imported, but upon enquiry, I was convinced they were like the red, the indigenous production of the soil, though they appeared to be as fine flavoured, and large as any I ever saw. The running Brambleberry (rubus moluccanus) are sometimes found in cold moist situations, but are not very common, nor any where in great plenty.

The Strawberry (fragaria vesca) is very common in lands that have been long cleared, without being cultivated, and are also found in open spots in the forest, they are all of the scarlet kind, and though small, are well flavoured, and in some situations, grow large and in great plenty; it has been remarked, that wherever the strawberry grows before the soil is cultivated, it afterwards throws up white clover in great abundance.

The Hazle Nut (corylus avellana.) is common in many parts of the Island.

The Bayberry (myrica cerifera) is a small shrub, seldom rising above two feet and a half, it yields a strong aromatic perfume, and from the fruit which clings together in little green clusters, a fine green wax is extracted by boiling which makes excellent candles.

The Ginseng (panax trifolinum) is found in great plenty in the forest, where the timber is large, and the soil good, no attempt that I know of, has ever been made to ascertain its value.

Dwarf Elder ( ) is very common in rich deep soil.

The Maiden Hair (adianthus pedatuus) is very common in the woods among evergreens.

The Sarsaparilla (aralia) is found in great abundance, and from the warm nature of the soil is said to be much better than any to be found on the Continent, within five degrees of the same latitude.

Pigeon Berries ( ) grow in little clusters on a small plant, are of a bright scarlet, and in some districts are in great plenty, they have a mawkish sweet taste, and fatten common fowls very fast.

The Night Shade (solanum nigrum) is much too common, and has the same poisonous effects here as in England.

Besides these, there are several kinds of wild fruit, many shrubs, and a variety of plants that are not distinguished by any but trifling names, some of which, are much better known to the Indians, who frequently cure their disorders by means of herbs, without the assistance of any medical person.