TABLE 3. The natural forest as an indicator of soil quality: forest descriptions in the early literature applicable to the island in general or at particular sites.

SOIL OR LAND CONJECTURED RECORDER DESCRIPTION FOREST DESCRIPTION FOREST-TYPE

Curtis (1775) ‘the best land‘ “The spots of land whare the hard Wood grows is thought by the Inhabitants to be far the best for growing Hardwood forest (prospective settler) corn [i.e. cereals] or Vegetables.”

Selkirk (1803) ‘good land‘ “the further part [i.e. of the land along the portage across Point Prim] is large timber with a considerable Mixed hardwood forest (visiting proprietor) proportion of Pines etc. mixed with Maple, birch etc. this is reckoned good land — (maple, beech, yellow birch) on going 50 or 100 yards back [i.e. on the far side of the Pinette River] there is a great deal of Hardwood with some softwood Species — Maple, Beech, Birch, black and yellow, which grow to a great size, & are a better sign of land than the (white pine, red spruce, white. Here and there some Pine, Spruce etc. all of which Mr. Wright [the surveyor] reckons symptoms ?hemlock). of good land — a mixture of Pines augurs fully better than more Hardwoods. the mixture implies a due medium."

‘dry land’ “Beech and maple alone, implies very dry land.” Beech and/or maple forest.

‘wet land’ “Pines alone wet land.” Pine forest (or ? conifer forest).

‘sufficiently moist “Black Birch (among Beech and Maple) when abundant. seems also to prove a sufficient degree of Mixed hardwood forest land’ moisture." (beech, maple and yellow birch).

‘useless land’ “Black spruce alone shows land perfectly useless, a mere sand." Black spruce forest (sandy soils).

‘rich meadow “Red Spruce intermixed with Ash Alder Currants etc shows a rich swamp capable of being made into Swamp forest (red spruce,

land’ excellent meadow." with ash ? black) and alder).

‘bad land’ ‘Hemlock are a bad Sign of the land where prevalent.” Hemlock forest ‘barren land' “Where the Pines too are alone the land is generally barren and sandy.“ Pine forest (sandy soils).

land with a “Laird [a Loyalist settler] argues the Inland lands in the Island cannot be settled with advantage to a farmer Beech forests away from the disadvantage where they are Beech lands he may raise Wheat and Potatotes and maintain himself, but he cannot coast.

keep stock for want of hay, if he has no marsh, nor swampy or sappy land capable of being made into a

meadow."

“Spruce generally grows on poor land.” Spruce forest