The forests of his youth.

The forests in June.

The forests in September.

The soil.

The trees as indicators of the soil.

The undergrowth.

Scrubby spruces on sandy soils.

Swamps.

demoralizing pursuit. [p. 18] The description of Cascumpec, may be thought somewhat more particular than the wild and uncultivated tracts of that district may seem to demand. It is the record of a spirit departed from the deep but cheerful solitudes, where it rejoiced in extreme youth, and wandering amidst the forests, dreamed of flourishing towns and peopled villages, which every creek and every grove foretold—a spirit, departed forever from the scenes where, and where only, it ever felt the full pleasure of existence, without weariness and the desire of change. [pp. 19-20]

CHAPTER IV. Climate — Soil — Native Productions.

In the beginning of June, the summer bursts forth; and the natural forest, presenting to the eye every variety of vegetation, and filling the air with the fragrant perfumes of the native herbs of the island, gives abundant evidence of the fertility of the soil; and at the same time affords an opportunity for the lovers of nature to gratify their enthusiasm, or indulge their taste for contemplative enjoyment. ipp. 24-25]

About the middle of September, the evenings begin to get cool, and the autumn properly commences. The atmosphere is exceedingly rarified, and the deep azure of the clear sky reflects a darker shade upon the waters; while the forests, as they change from the rich green of summer to the thousand autumnal tints which the variety of their kinds exhibit, present scenery unsurpassed in beauty or in hopes of future plenty which they inspire, by any thing to be met with in the old or new world.

[p. 26]

The fertility of the soil of Prince Edward Island, is sufficiently indicated by its natural productions. The whole face of the country, with inconsiderable exceptions, is, or was originally, covered with forest trees of the richest foliage, and of great variety in their kinds. The general character of the soil is that of an unctuous loamy mould. In some parts, the proportion of sand prevails over its more fertile properties, and in others, a rich marly loam predominates, without approaching to the character of the heavy clay soils in Great Britain. Its peculiar properties are generally known by its original productions; and where maple of its several kinds, and beech and black birch, intermixed with the larger species of the fir tribe, prevail and attain the greatest perfection, they are justly considered conclusive evidence of the superior quality of the soil. [pp. 27-28]

Sometimes the forests are open, and the trees so far apart, that you may ride through the country without roads; but they are generally too much mixed with trees of a smaller growth, or the way is obstructed by wind-falls, or they have too much underwood to permit the traveller to make a straight course, even on foot. But, the more obstruction to the first efforts at cultivation that we meet, the more certain we may be, that we have chosen a soil that will soon repay the capital and labor we apply to subdue it to the purposes of profitable increase. [p. 28]

There are some districts, but they are not extensive, where the soil is very sandy, and hardly at present, worth cultivating. The lands of this description, in their wild state,

are indicated by their productions, which are usually scrubby spruces and other species of firs of stinted growth.

There are also swampy lands of considerable extent in some of the districts; but as no attempt has been made to bring these into cultivation, we can only conjecture from the natural grass they produce wherever they are not over—run with spruces and thick bushes, that they will, as the population increases, be found easily converted into good pasture lands.

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