AMERICAN ELM (Ulmus americana)

Identification and nomenclature — The one species of elm that occurs on Prince Edward Island should have been readily distinguished from all other broad—leaved trees. In the records it is usually identified only as the 'elm’ (Table 1-7) except for Bagster (1861) who calls it the ’white elm’.511

General distribution and abundance — Elm occurs in only sixteen of the thirty—seven tree lists (Table 1-7), which, considering that it is usually a large tree that could not have been overlooked because of a small size, is indicative of its scarcity. Most of the recorders in fact note that it was scarce or uncommon“. It also was recorded just twice

outside of the tree lists (Table 1-1).

Specific areas — There are only three references to elm in specific places: Bain (1890) said that it was found in ”the eastern and western counties”, and in his notebooks he recorded its presence at Freetown“, whereas on his train journey to Alberton he observed it between Miscouche and O'Leary5‘4. Watson (post 1904) quotes a source that it occurred in the "western parts” of the island, and he himself noted its presence at

Campbelltown.

Habitat and community relationships — Bain (1883) noted the presence of elm on "some of the deep mucky soils" associated with "swampy uncultivated land" between Miscouche and O'Leary, while in his later school textbook he stated more generally that some ”magnificent elm trees” grew on the "damp rich soils of the eastern and western counties”5‘5. These observations are in agreement with Sutherland’s (1861) comment

511

See footnote 418 for my belief that Curtis’ (1775) “which- hazle“ (an eighteenth century name for the European wych elm, Ulmus montana) is not the American elm, but rather yellow birch.

5‘2 [Cambridge] (1796?) said it was “not in great plenty"; Stewart (1806): “not very common nor in great plenty in any part of the Island"; MacGregor (1828) (and Bouchette (1832) following him): “scarce"; MacGregor (1832): "not plentiful"; Hill (1839): “not numerous"; Sutherland (1861): "found occasionally"; and [Bain] (1882): “a very inconspicuous feature of our forest". Bain (1890): “not abundant". Walsh (1803) in fact said that he could not find any elms on the island “except for a few that had been evidently planted" (presumably in the Charlottetown area).

5‘3 Bain 1868-1884 (in 1868).

5“ [Bain] 1883.

515

Bain 1890.

216

that it was found ”occasionally on an intervale” (i.e. on river bottom lands‘s).

Tree sizes — The only comment on the size of the elm is that of Bain (1890) who noted that it was a “large tree”. Its size is also conveyed by his use of the word ”magnificent" to describe particular trees.

Properties and uses — MacGregor (1832) said that the ”description” of elm — which I take to refer to the wood — was ”excellent”. Hill (1839), however, considered that elm timber was ”not valuable”, but it is likely that he is referring to the small quantity of elm wood available on the island, rather than to the quality of the wood itself. Bain (1890) said that its timber was ”less liable to split than any other wood, and [was] used for hubs of wheels, mill-work, and keels of ships”.

Though Sutherland's (1861) reference to "the graceful elm” may be a literary cliché, Bain’s (1890) ”magnificent elms” appears to be a description of specific trees. Bain also describes it as "towering above the rest of the forest where it grows”. It was presumably because of this 'grace' and 'magnificence’ that it was planted as a shade tree - even before 1803 it seems to have been so planted”, such that by 1890 Bain could note its use as ornamental shade-trees around dwellings.

Conclusion — Elm was a relatively uncommon or even scarce tree on the island being found on moist soils especially in ’intervales’ in the eastern and western parts of the island. Individual trees could be quite large, and its wood was very useful for specific purposes.

THE PO PLARS

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) Largetooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

Identification and nomenclature The three Popu/us species native to Prince Edward Island were rarely distinguished by the early recorders. Up to 1861 all that was ever recorded was the

516

Perley (1847) in his Report on the Forest Trees of New Brunswick (p. 321) said that the term “intervale lands" as used in New Brunswick, referred to “low, humid, substantial soils along the banks of rivers and streams, or on the borders of swamps where the soil is deep and fertile".

5‘7 Walsh 1803.