cultivated as one would suppose it would be, because the other grains, such as oats and barley, are more productive-are more in demand by the lumbermen, and bring in proportion to the cost of raising a larger and more remunerating price per bushel.

Oats and Barley are therefore the principal grain crops grown. These grow vigorously on the new lands-have but few enemies to contend with-often produce enormous crops, and sell readily at large prices.

Buckwheat. This will grow almost spontaneously on these lands. It is a staple crop among the French, or Acadian settlers. The rough variety, or "Indian wheat," as it is sometimes called, is the only kind cultivated. It is a sure crop-yields large amounts to the acre easily gathered and cleansed, and is much used by them as an article of diet and for fattening their hogs and poultry. It may be a matter of fancy on our part, but we thought we could see some connection between the physical energy of the farmers in that section and the crops that they raise. There was an apparent listlessness and lack of physical stamina in those Acadians who cultivated little else than buckwheat for bread, compared with those who paid attention to the culture of the wheat and other cereals. Whether the buckwheat diet was the cause, and the debility the effect, or vice versa, we will not here attempt to decide. The flour or meal from this grain is much used by the settlers for fattening pork, and some of the fattest hogs we ever saw were fed principally upon buckwheat gruel.

Root Crops. The various esculent roots, such as potatoes, turnips, ruta bagas, parsnips, carrots, beets in all its varieties, onions, &c., are "at home," throughout the whole extent of the region we traversed. Any amount of them can be produced, and would be produced for export, did the facilities of transportation warrant their being carried to market at a reasonable expense. Not only is the crop generally large in quantity, but excellent in quality.

Small Fruits. Most of the small fruits grow luxuriantly in this section of the country, and their cultivation would be eminently successful. Strawberries, currants, gooseberries, blackberries, blueberries, are all indigenous to these lands. The wild currants, however, are not so palatable as some others, but the fact of their being native to the land is proof that the improved and cultivated varieties will find congenial soil and climate. Cherries and plums will also flourish well, though we could not promise that the

"Black-knot" would let them alone. This singular disorder is by
no means confined to civilized life. It was frequently met with
far
away in the forest, thirty or forty miles from any gardens of
cultivated fruits-fastening itself upon the wild cherry trees and
disfiguring and blighting them as severely as any ever seen in the
gardens in the oldest sections of the country.

The "high or bush cranberry," (Virburnum opulus,) and the common lowland cranberry, (Vaccinium Oxy coccus,) are found abundantly, the first by the side of streams and swampy lands and the latter on the wet meadows and bogs.

Stock Raising. The wild lands which we examined, are capable of making an 'excellent stock growing country when cleared and laid down to grass. It is true that the length of the winters and the consequent longer time required to feed from the crib serve in the minds of some as a drawback, but there is a compensating principle in the superior advantages for grass and hay during the summer season, brought about in part, by the covering shelter of the snow which protects the earth and the herbage, until the season is too far advanced for any injury to arise from too much freezing and thawing, during the transition from winter to summer. If it were not for the losses often occasioned by wolves and other wild animals, the Upper Madawaska section might grow almost unlimited amount of wool and mutton. The rich intervals and upland, so well adapted for forage crops, would yield ample supply for winter feeding, and the cool and breezy slopes and tops of their hills would give the best of pasturage for them. It is to be hoped that in time, this important branch of husbandry will receive more attention in that part of the State, and their flocks increased as fast as is compatible with safety in the investment from beasts of prey.

The abundance of pasturage and the good condition of the cattle and horses on the few clearings now to be found along the route we travelled, is a practical demonstration that such stock may be advantageously raised in those townships as soon as the forest can be changed into a grass growing field, and that can be done in two years from falling and burning the trees.

NATURAL HISTORY OF WILD LANDS.

Although our exploration of the wild lands occupied but a part of the season, and embraced a small portion only of that section of the State so designated, our researches in reference to its Natural

History were attended with good success, so far as the collection of specimens for the cabinet and fixing or making certain of localities were concerned.

Many important facts were obtained, which are reserved for the future, when they, with such additions as future explorations may give, will be elaborated and published in the final report. The birds and quadrupeds which make these wilds their "habitat," are included in the catalogue given in a former part of this report. The accompanying reports of Messrs. Goodale and Packard, will give valuable information in regard to the Botany and Entomology of the region passed over. A collection of such fishes and reptiles as we met with was also made, and are preserved in the cabinet, and description reserved for final report. In these two last named departments, as well as in the others, researches should be made in the earlier as well as the later parts of the season, as they have their regular times for appearance and disappearance, as well as birds, insects and plants. More explorations in different months as successful as that just accomplished, will enable us to furnish a pretty full report of all departments, and give a Natural History of Maine that shall be true to the types nature has given, and as complete as the discoveries made shall allow.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE PENOBSCOT RIVER.

It might be expected that a report upon the Physical Geography of the Penobscot should accompany this report. This was intended; but the voyage up to the source of its main channel, convinces us that this should not be attempted until a full and thorough exploration shall have been made of all its tributaries and collateral branches.

A river of this magnitude,-extending through so wide a range of country, and ramifying through such a diversity of soil and geological formation,-through sections long since cleared and highly cultivated, through dense forest still clothed with the primeval growth, through sphagnous swamps and mountain gorges, must be rather varied in its Physical characteristics. The notes and observations thus far made on this branch of the survey, are reserved until more extensive observations shall render them more complete, some conjectural points be rendered more certain, and doubts confirmed or removed.

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BOTANICAL NOTES ON THE NEW LANDS.

To EZEKIEL HOLMES, M. D.,

Naturalist to the Scientific Survey:

The tour in the wild lands of the Penobscot and St. John rivers, was commenced at a season peculiarly favorable for botanical investigation. The plants which had flowered in early summer were found in fruit, and the Composite of autumn were just in flower. This enabled me to examine two entirely different sets of plants and under advantageous circumstances. Of course the investigations were mostly confined to the immediate neighborhood of the larger rivers and more important lakes.

It is not deemed necessary to give, in this report, any detailed sketch of the journey; but rather to present an account of the vegetation observed in the various sections of the route. The division of the route into floral sections is not so arbitrary as might, . at first, appear; on the contrary, the limits are in every case well marked by the appearance or disappearance of one or more important plants.

The first section extends from Bangor to the Wassataquoik river near Katahdin; the second includes the lands between the Wassataquoik and Seboois rivers; the third embraces the territory between the Seboois river and Churchill Lake; the fourth extends as far as the Long Lake on the Alleguash; the fifth comprising all the lands as far as the northern boundary of the State.

The vegetation changes very little for the first twenty miles above Bangor. The first change of any importance is the substitution of a species of Zizania for the smaller pond-weeds noticed near the shore at Oldtown. This species of wild rice is evidently distinct from Z. aquatica, L. as the leaves are longer but narrower; and the paleæ awnless. It is very near Z. fluitans of Lower Florida. This is the most characteristic water weed of the Penobscot till we reach Medway where it entirely disappears, and its place is taken by Glyceria fluitans or Floating Rattlesnake grass.

The timber along the shore as far north as Medway, has been thinned out by the lumbermen, and very little first class lumber now remains near the banks of the river. The vegetation of the vicinity of Medway may be called the same as that of northern Oxford county, and a glance at the map will at once show that they are on nearly the same parallel. Above the branching of the Penobscot we find certain plants not detected by us lower down the river, except as very rare. Here we find in great abundance, Lobelia Kalmii, Anemone Pennsylvanica, and, more rarely, Aralia quinquefolia. This marked vegetation continues to be noticed as far as a point on the river, thirty miles above Nicatou.

Wassataquoik Section.

At the mouth of the Wassataquoik, is indicated a fertility not seen lower down on the river. In fact, certain plants are found only a mile from the house occupied by Mr. Hunt, growing to an astonishing height and in every way indicating an exceedingly fertile soil. Wild Lettuce was seen, with its topmost flowers, as yet undeveloped, at a height of eleven and twelve feet from the ground; leaves of the Elm, measuring seven inches in length by five in width; Blue joint grass with its loose spike seven and eight feet high. And the whole interval seemed to be equally rich in its vegetation, affording a superior soil for the farmer. Indeed the vegetation of this section is very remarkable and resembles in great measure that of the singular tract of fertile land in Aroostook county. The crops being raised by Mr. Hunt, at this place, were flourishing finely and proved that even by superficial cultivation the land would yield abundant crops.

Mt. Katahdin is distant from this point of junction of the Wassataquoik and east branch of the Penobscot, twenty-five miles. Upon our route over the first ten miles of the way, we all had frequent occasion to complain of the great height of Blue joint grass which was often seen taller than our heads. It was at this part of our journey that we saw the only specimens of Halenia deflexa, Grieseb., noticed during the tour; and this leads me to think that its range in Maine is somewhat limited, being confined to the vicinity of Katahdin and one or two other mountains of considerable elevation. Good timber is not remarkably abundant in this region, the Pines and other cone-bearing trees decreasing in size and number as we approach the base of the mountain.