Then, there is the 1904 comment of Watson that it occurred in ”hilly places" and was ”fairly common along roadsides and in growths of

evergreen trees”. “5

There are differing opinions as to the soils associated with hemlock: on the one hand Seymour (1840) recorded that the presence of hemlock — and young hardwoods — on his ”reserve land” in Lot 13 indicated a good soil, while Johnstone (1822) considered soil ”congenial to the production of hemlock” — including that of his ”hemlock clumps” — to be ”the third best in quality” on the island. On the other hand, Selkirk (1803) was told that they were "a bad sign of the land where prevalent”, and Lawson (1851) considered the soil where hemlock was the ”prevailing wood” to be "questionable”. We have also MacGregor's (1828) association of the species with ”dry hollows”, mentioned above. One possible way out of this contradiction is that the presence of hemlock in hardwood forest was taken as a sign of good soil but where found on its own the soil was considered not to be as good.

Properties and uses — Selkirk (1803) noted in his diary that hemlock was a ”shaken” wood, meaning that cracks and splits can occur in the lumber.246 This meant that its use as boards was restricted to rough work: lathsz“, flooring and wainscoting are

mentioned in the sources“. It also seems to

have been potentially exportable as ”ton timber” — the colony’s House of Assembly listed it as one of three softwood species for which it set regulations on the sizes that could be exported”, and a specific example of its potential export is provided

13; Bain (1868-1884) described hemlock as an element in the mixed hardwood forests at Springfield (6 Feb. 1873) (where, he said, it occurred in the ‘hollows‘, along with spruce and fir), and in a forest at an unnamed location but presumably within walking distance of his home at York Point (16 Dec. 1880).

2‘5 For what it is worth, I also note that Ready (1899) had listed hemlock as occurring in a “heavy growth“ of conifers — this was in the pre-settlement forest that occurred along the coast of Lot 20 and up to two miles inland (i.e. the Sea View to Park Corner area).

2‘6 See Farrar(1995). 2" Johnstone (1822) says that it was split into laths in Scotland (whether he is speaking of hemlock from the island or in general is not clear); Hill (1839) says it was exported as lathwood.

24s It is Hill (1839) who mentions the flooring and wainscotting. No one makes mention of its use for the rough boarding of houses, where it would have been covered over, and barns. Perley (1846) says this was its most common use in New Brunswick, and it was undoubtedly so also on Prince Edward Island.

249

House of Assembly (1773-1849) (in 1817, 1820 and 1849). For a definition of ton timber see footnote 76.

181

by a contract giving merchants the option of 'exploiting’ ”two ship loads of hemlock” annually250 ~ although this may not have been frequent in practice, Seymour (1840) recording that it was "not considered applicable to shipping”.

It was also known to be resistant to decay especially under continuously wet conditionszs‘. This meant that it was especially useful in the structure of wharves and bridgesm, as well as of mill damsm, in which, according to MacGregor (1828), it also had the additional benefit of preventing iron from corroding, both under the water and when exposed to the air. But its resistance to rot also carried a disadvantage: hemlock stumps on cleared farm land could take a very long time to decay — twenty or thirty years are mentioned by Selkirk (1803) and Johnstone (1822).254 Johnstone also records that its wood was heavy to cut and pile during land clearance operations, as well as difficult to burn. Hemlock bark was used in tanning leather255, while its ”tops” (presumably the leaves) yielded a ”medicine” or ”beer" useful in ”scorbutic complaints” (i.e. for scurvy)“.

Conclusion — Hemlock appears to have been a significant component of the island’s forests occurring either as pure stands or mixed with hardwoods on soils that were capable of being cleared for agriculture. Its wood was generally considered inferior in quality, but of use for several specialist purposes.

25° Selkirk (1809).

25‘ This property is mentioned by Selkirk (1803), while Patterson (1774) called it a "very durable timber". During the French period Jean-Pierre Roma had also recorded that it stayed well preserved in the ground (see Sobey 2002, p. 89, 92).

252 Selkirk 1803; Stewart 1806; Hill 1839; Seymour 1840.

253 Selkirk 1803.

254

MacGregor (1828) also mentions this property. 2"" Patterson 1774; Stewart 1806; Hill 1839; Bain 1890. The actual extent to which it was used for tanning on the island is not evident from any of the records.

2‘56 Walsh 1803; Stewart 1806. it may have been drunk more generally: Anon. (1826) refers to a hemlock drink as a pioneer substitute for "store tea".