few locations533 is mentioned by only two recorders (Table 1-7): Bagster (1861) simply listed it under the name ”Hornbeam (Carpinus Ostrya)”53“, and he included it among those trees that flower in May, while Johnson (1895) simply included it in his list.

THE CHERRIES (Prunus species)

There are two cherry trees native to Prince Edward Island, the choke cherry (Prunus virginiana) and the pin or fire cherry (P. pensy/vanica). ’Cherry’ or ’cherries', sometimes with specific names given, are listed by ten recorders, mostly of the late nineteenth century (Table 1-7). It also had three mentions in the total tally (Table 1-1). Some observed that there was more than one cherry species on the island. Stewart (1806) said that cherries grew in great numbers on newly cleared land, unless they were kept down by cultivation — he must have had in mind the fire cherry. He also noted that they grew quickly but never reached a large size and did not live beyond fifteen or twenty years. MacGregor (1828) also reported that wild cherry trees were one of the colonizers on burned sites. Stewart (1806) said that for flavouring cherry rum and cherry brandy, the island species were as good as the best European cherries.

THE MOUNTAIN ASHES (Sorbus species)

Two species of mountain ash (Sorbus americana and S. decora), which are very similar to each other, are native to Prince Edward Island. The only records for the genus in the tree lists are those of Bagster (1861), Bain (1882), Johnson (1895) and Watson (post 1904). Bagster lists mountain ash under the Latin name Sorbus aucupar/a (Table 1-7). This is in fact the scientific name of the European species of mountain ash, a species that was introduced as an ornamental tree to the island in the nineteenth century”, though it is probable that Bagster is using the name for the native species. He makes no further comment on the tree. Watson records the presence of S. americana, as well as of the planted European

533 Catling, Erskine & MacLaren 1985 (p. vii). Seemingly, it is

confined to one location in Prince County and two in Queens County.

53" The name Carp/nus Ostrya for ironwood (Ostrya Virginiana), or

the hop hornbeam, as it is also called, goes back to Linnaeus in 1753 (Elwes 8. Henry 1910).

5’35 Erskine 1960.

220

species 8. aucuparia. In the only records outside of the tree lists (Table 1-1), Bain (1890) uses the British name ’rowan’ for the mountain ash, and includes the tree as an understorey element in the island's hardwood forests, while on his train journey to Alberton, he also observed it on swampy land between Miscouche and O'Learym.

THE ALDERS (Alnus species)

Though there are two alder species on the island (the downy alder A/nus viridis, ssp. crispa and the speckled alder A. incana, ssp. rugosa) the ten list— makers who include alder (Table 1-7), as well as the eight other records in the total tally (Table 1- 1), seem all to refer to the far more common speckled alder. Almost all note its occurrence in low rich swampy lands, along the sides of creeks, rivulets and marshes.537 Companions of alder mentioned for some of the habitats are: ”large annual weeds, particularly nettles”538; ”red spruce, ash, currants, etc/’5”; and ”large ash, dogwood, maple etc.”54°. The land on which it occurred was considered capable of conversion to rich grasslands“. Sutherland (1861) said that the tree yielded good charcoal, that its bark was valuable

for tanning, and that it gave a good dyes“.

HAZEL (Cory/us cornuta)

Hazel was recorded on the island by six recorders (Tables 1—1 and 1-7). The only comment on the habitat of the species is that of Bain (1890) who said that it grew in rich woods, citing it as an understorey element in the island's hardwood forests, as does also Pollard (1898). Oddly, Bain says there were two species on the island, one of which he distinguishes by its better nuts. In fact

5” [Bain] 1883.

537 For brief comments on the habitat of alder see especially MacDonald (1804), Stewart (1806), MacGregor (1828), Sutherland (1861), [Bain] (1882) and Bain (1890). There are also two references to “alder swamps" in the report of the Land Commission (1875): in the evidence of Albert Williams, Lot 12 and

Francis Curran, Lot 50,

538

Stewart 1806. 5” Selkirk 1803.

5““ Gray 1793.

5‘1 The potential of alder sites for conversion to hay or grass meadow when cleared of their trees is mentioned by [MacDonald] (1804), Stewart (1806), Selkirk (1803) and MacGregor (1828).

5‘2 Stewart (1806) said the dye was dark-brown in colour.