The Republican journal., 1912-10-17
THE MACDALEN ISLANDS.
A Harvard Botanist Reports on their Veae-
tation.

tation.
! For the first time since this continent
was discovered the vegetation of the
Magdalen Islands, situated in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, some 60 miles north of
the northernmost point of Nova Scotia,
has been scientifically examined and
catalogued as result of the expedition
headed by Prof., M. L. Fernald, who has
just returned from visit to the little
known archipelago on behalf of the
Gray Herbarium of Harvard university.
Not only have Prof. Fernald's investi-
cations great interest from a scientific
standpoint, but they are expected to
prove significant to agriculturists of the
maritime provinces. He has found that
the soil and the natural vegetation of
the islands resemble those of 'the south
ern coastal plain" of which Cape Cod
and New Jersey are representative sec
of the Magdalen Islands, they differ in
their flora from New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia, or even northern Maine.
Accompanying Prof. Fernald on his
trip to the archipelago were E. P. Bart
ram and Bayard Long of the Academy
of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and
Harold st. John, junior at Harvard.
They visited every section of the dozen
islands and secured specimens to show
the production and possibilities of the
entire area of some $50 square miles.
Our visit was very pleasant, said
Prof. Fernald, land it seems that as
the islands become better known they
will be visited by larger numbers of
tourists. But the group is isolated, and
that is one reason why no botani-a col
lection has heretofore been made there.
"a study of the islands is highly in
teresting, for the soil is equal to that of
Prince Edward Island, which is noted for
its fertility. This soil of the Magdalen
group is of disintegrated sandstone. In
the centre of each island is limestone
trap rock formation and as this disinte-
CRATES it furnishes plenty of lime to the
SOIL
Moreover, the island soil is easily
worked, for boulders are as rare there
as they are common in New England.
In only one place during our journey
about the islands did we find any
boulders worth mentioning, and these
were few indeed. Yet, despite such
natural advantages, the cuItivating of
the islands is confined to the gardens of
the French Canadian fisherman who
form the bulk of the population.
"The failure to make the best of nat
ural advantages is shown in the matter
of cranberries. In certain sections of
islands there are sand dunes, as on Cape
Cod, and in the hollows among the
dunes are bogs where cranberries grow
wild. The inhabitants gather the wild
cranberries, but no attempt has been
made to cultivate them. Nevertheless,
it is in sections a natural cranberry
country, full of possibilities for the man
of initiative.
''There is no doubt that these favored
islands offer a splendid opportunity for
intensive farming. They are scarcely
more than two days by steamship from
Boston, and if we had reciprocity the
products of the island might very we'll
form welcome addition to our markets.
1.-THE islands should be better known
to tourists, though at present they are
rather off the beaten track. Steamers
run from Pictou, Nova Scotia, to the
islands twice a week, making circuit
OF all the principal ports, delivering mail
and freight and carrying passengers.
The round trip takes from three to four
days.
In appearance the islands should ap-
peal to artists. The high wooded hills
with their dark green masses in the
centre of each island contrast with the
hue of the sand bars and the red of the
sandstone. The islands lie in the form
of an ellipse, almost entirely inclosing a
great lagoon. Here in the lagoon the
water is sheltered for motor boating
and the navigating of similar small
craft