found in every part of Upper and Lower Canada.

The DOG-WOOD and PRICKLY-ASH are very common shrubs in the Western Districts. The bark of both, as well as that of the Wild Cherry, is used as a substitute for Peruvian Bark. Dog-wood bears some resemblance to Box-wood, but differs from it greatly in several of its properties.

SPICE-WOOD, GOLD-THREAD, ELECAMPANE, LoBELIA, and SASSAFRAS, are also natives of the Canadas.

The COTTON-PLANT, or Cotonnier, grows abundantly in both Provinces: It produces a pod of an oval shape, about six inches long, which contains a fine white silky substance resembling very fine cotton. It is an excellent substitute for feathers, but is, I think, capable of being appropriated to more important purposes. The plant, when young, is sold by the French Canadians in the Quebec and Montreal markets, and is esteemed little inferior to Asparagus. In the month of August, there is an abundant dew upon its leaves, which, when shaken off and boiled down, is said to make a kind of sugar resembling honey. It must, however, be as tedious a mode of procuring honey as that which, it is averred, was pursued by a London citizen, when he retired to the country to enjoy the fortune acquired by his skill, and, among others of his novel rustic experiments, wished to establish a number of bee-communities, or hives. He would not listen to a single word from his more intelligent

under-steward, about the ordinary method of accomplishing such an object; but, giving him a fierce reprimand for the extravagance of his proposal, he asked, "how he could be so thoughtless as to recommend a purchase of what might so easily be procured on the Downs?"-He was ordered to hire ten women to go in quest of bees the next morning, and to prepare hives for the reception of the captives. "Early in the next day the detachment started for the Downs, each furnished with a tin canister to contain the spoil; and after running about for hours, stunning the bees with blows from their straw bonnets, and encountering stings without number, secured about thirty prisoners, who were safely lodged in a hive. But, as has been the fate of many arduous campaigns, little advantage accrued from all this fatigue and danger. Next morning the Squire sallied forth to visit his new colony. As he approached, a loud humming assured him they were hard at work, when to his infinite disappointment, it was found that the bees had made their escape through a small hole in the hive, leaving behind them only an unfortunate humblebee, whose bulk prevented his squeezing himself through the aperture, and whose loud complaints had been mistaken for the busy hum of industry."*

The ONION-TREE, or, as the Canadians call it, "the Top Onion," is found in many of the gardens in both Provinces. It grows to the height of three or four feet. At or near the extremity of each

* London Literary Gazette.

plant, grows a cluster of moderate-sized onions, which, if not plucked before they are perfectly ripe, will put forth buds, and in due season produce another cluster of a smaller size. One of these plants frequently produces twenty or thirty onions, of the size of a walnut. They are esteemed equal in quality to the root-onion, and are of course more productive. It is very remarkable, that if one of the small onions which grow upon the tree, be taken from the plant in Autumn and preserved from the frost till Spring, it will, if planted, not only put forth luxuriant shoots, but its bulb will also considerably increase in size, in the same manner as a root-onion. It does not however produce any top-onions the first year; but if taken up and preserved, in the same way as before, until the following Spring, and then re-planted, it will yield an abundant supply of generic fruit.

The first herb which appears above ground, on the return of the Canadian Spring, is a species of GARLIC. If not really indigenous, Garlic, which among the French is a favourite kind of seasoning, must have been imported into this country by them, when they came to colonize these Provinces. The wonderful process by which, in the economy of nature, every species of vegetable is propagated, will easily account for Garlic being found in a wild state; its seeds might have either been wafted by the winds out of the inclosures in which the plants were growing, or have been conveyed into the distant woods by the ordure of birds that fed upon

them. As soon as the snow disappears, the ground in the woods is literally covered with herbage of this kind. The fetid smell, arising from such a great quantity of strongly-scented vegetables, is so very overpowering, that you cannot walk in the open air in the Spring-time of the year for many minutes without inhaling a sufficient portion of garlic to sicken a pole-cat. Cattle of all kinds are however partial to this offensive herb, and devour it with such appetite, that in a month or five weeks from the disappearing of the snow, they become sleek and in excellent condition. During this period milk and butter are of little value to any man, except he be fortunate enough to have lost his palate, and to be in possession of an unconquerable stomach. You might as well drink water strongly impregnated with assafoetida as attempt to force milk and butter of this description on the delicate organs of deglutition. When allowed to arrive at maturity, the garlic produces a variety of little flowers, very beautiful in appearance, and of a much more agreeable odour than the leaves of the parent

stem.

A herb, called by the name of WILD TURNIP, is very common in Canada. The root of this herb is not much unlike that of the common white turnip; but the stalk which grows two or three feet high, and the leaves which are beautifully variegated, have not the slightest resemblance to those of any turnip with which I am acquainted.

The stalk of this singular plant terminates in a flower somewhat like a tulip; and its root is considered an excellent remedy for the colic. But it is almost impossible to taste it without one's mouth being set on fire, for it is much more pungent than Cayenne pepper.

The JUNIPER TREE is an ever-green, which produces an abundant supply of berries; but they are seldom collected in Canada, though they might prove a good article for exportation to England or Holland, where they are employed in the manufacture of GIN, to which they are said to communicate a fine flavour, and to impart a diuretic quality.

The REIN-DEER Moss, a species of Wild Oats, and a coarse kind of River Grass, grow in the swamps and small lakes.

The SEA RYE, the Seaside Plaintain, the Sea Rocket, the Laurier, and the Seaside Peas, are also natives of Canada, and are used by the Indians for a variety of purposes.

An aromatic herb, called INDIAN GRASS, is used as a substitute for Lavender; it retains its odour for a length of time, and communicates a very agreeable scent to clothes.

A herb, called INDIAN TEA, is employed as a substitute for that of China, and is considered by some of the Canadians to be little inferior to the best Congo. But they use any thing and every thing in lieu of that incomparable plant. Hemlock