Chapter 12 – 1951

January 2, 1951 (Lockeport Station)
Tuesday. Adshead and I started at 8 a.m. in my car. The roads were very slippery at the start and the car was cold, but by the time we got to Liverpool the snow on the roads was starting to melt and the roads were clear when we got to Lockeport. We made the collections and had lunch at the Ragged Islands Inn. Coming back, the roads were clear till we got to Mahone Bay then it started to get dark, and the roads started to get tricky. The roads were especially tricky in the Beechville area. We got home about 7 p.m.

March 28, 1951 (Wolfville)
Wednesday. We all went to the Institute of Science meeting at Acadia. Jane Bailly, Ann MacDonald, Norman Brackett and Findlay went in my car. Findlay drove all the way. We left at 4:15 sharp and deposited Jane at the Hall at 12:35. It was a good trip.

April 4, 1951 (Hubley Big Lake)
Wednesday. Jane Bailly, Jane Burchell, Findlay and I went out to Hubley Big Lake [coordinates 44.660821, -63.831474] to inspect the Bearberry patch. Left about 2:45 p.m. and returned 4:45 p.m. The flowers were ready to open but not opened. They looked as if they would be out in about two weeks. We made collections of buds and also brought in some leather leaf plants but no preserved collections of this.

April 16, 1951 (Halifax)
Monday. Findlay and I burnt all the blueberry patches. Jane was with us at Studley and MacKeen’s. We had the sump pump and watering can. Everything went O.K. It took us under two hours in all.

April 21, 1951 (Hubley Big Lake and Woodens Cove)
Saturday. Jimmie, Findlay, Marjorie and I left our house about 11:45. Marjorie and I got off at Hubley [coordinates 44.660821, -63.831474]. Jimmie and Findlay drove on to Woodens Cove [coordinates 44.592754, -63.92209]. Marjorie and I walked through the old road. The Bearberries were not out but the buds were swollen and looked as if they should be out in about in ten days. The patches of Bearberries extended all along the high part of the land and did not end till we dropped down towards the river. We met Jimmie and Findlay at about 3:45 p.m. It hailed quite heavily as Marjorie and I were going over the highland. Findley caught two trout. Jimmie continued to fish for a while. We got back home in time for supper.

April 25, 1951 (Lake Eagle [coordinates 44.744956, -63.441597])
Wednesday. Findlay and I started off about 9:30 a.m. in my car. We parked in the usual place and walked in. We cut a patch of blueberry bushes between the site of the old house and the still-water and marked it with sticks and stones. Findlay and I fished for a while in the main lake, but it started to rain so we started for home.  The mayflies were out in force and the fish were jumping. We were back in the lab about 3 p.m.

May 1, 1951 (Hubley Big Lake)
Tuesday. Hubley Big Lake [coordinates 44.660821, -63.831474] at the spot where the Bearberries grow was visited by Jane Burchell and I. We left in my car at 2:30 p.m. We planned to drive right to the lake, but a car was broken down on the road about ¾ of a mile in and we had to back out and left my car at Holland Lake. We walked in from there. The Bearberries were not yet in flower, but the Leatherleaf bushes were. We made a wet and dry collection of these. We got back to the lab about 5 p.m. and I showed Jane what to do with the collections. It was a fine warm day and a good trip. The Bearberries were almost out and should be in full bloom in about ten days.

May 8, 1951 (Hubley Big Lake)
Tuesday. Went to spot [coordinates 44.660821, -63.831474] where Bearberries grow with Ann Marshall in her car. We parked the car in the usual place and walked into the patch. It rained when we were walking in and we walked back from the road for a way. Only a few flowers were in bloom but we got some nice ones.

May 18, 1951 (Leatherleaf collecting spots)
Friday. Jane Burchell, Ann Marshall and I went out to select a collecting spot for the seasons collecting. We visited the bog on the pipeline at Armdale, the church bog, the north end of the Frog Pond and south end of Frog Pond. The growth at the north end of Frog Pond [coordinates 44.628315, -63.603223] was much the most luxuriant and furthest advanced so we selected that patch for the seasons collection.

May 18, 1951 (Hubley Big Lake)
Friday. Jane Burchell and I went out to Hubley Big Lake [coordinates 44.660821, -63.831474] to check on the flowering period for the Bearberry. The flowers were in full bloom. The corolla had fallen from some and others were withering. The last blossoms were out in full bloom. It looked to me as if it were the end of the flowering for this plant. The trip took the whole afternoon. It takes half an hour to walk in from where we park the car.

June 1, 1951 (Lake Eagle [coordinates 44.744956, -63.441597])
Friday. Ann Marshall, Jane Burchell and I left in my car about 2 p.m. to measure blueberry plants beside the patch that Findlay and I mowed. Jane and Ann made measurements of the blueberry plants and while doing this Ann was tortured by the black flies. Later she came out in a rash and had a very severe reaction to each bite. After measuring the plants, we went up the trail to the lake. I had never seen the water so high. It was running down all the paths to the place where we cross the run and the temporary bridge across the run was floating. We had to wade to get across. I more or less fell in. At the lake, the rock where we usually eat our lunch, was under water. On the way back, Ann found she had forgotten her watch, but did not find this out until she was over the temporary bridge. Jane went back to the lake and got the watch. We go home about 6 p.m.

June 11, 1951 (Lake Eagle and Skerry’s Brook)
Monday. Bailly, Burchell and I went out in my car to check growth in the patch where Findlay and I had cut. We left about 11 a.m., parked the car at usual place and walked in. The growth in the mowed patch had started, and it appeared to be about the same length as the growth in the burn patches. It did not look so luxuriant but this is only guess. Another year I should burn and cut a number of adjacent patches. We had lunch on the Lake Eagle property [coordinates 44.744956, -63.441597]. From there we drove up to Skerry’s Brook [coordinates 44.776939, -63.588311]. I located the path. It follows close beside the brook and the best patches of leafy liverworts are just at the top of the hill where the path is right beside the brook, just at the margin between the fast-running brook and the bog. It was a fine day. We came back via Bedford reaching lab by 4:30 p.m.

June 12, 1951 (Chester [coordinates 44.541408, -64.242544])
Tuesday. Janet wanted to see her aunts and I wanted Ascophyllum tips, so I took Jane Burchell and Janet down in my car leaving at 2:30 p.m. and getting back at 6:40 p.m. the Ascophyllum plants were in perfect shape, so I made the collections. We had afternoon tea there. Roberta and Fraser Bond called in while we were there.

June 14, 1951 (Kentville, Caribou bog, Steam Mill Village called “Mill Village” on the map)
Thursday. Janet Bailly, Ann Marshall, Jane Burchell and I left at 9 a.m. Ann drove. We collected at the Meander River and at the sink hole just beyond. I fell in the sink hole. We had lunch at the Experimental Farm and a little after 1 p.m. Don Creelman took us around as follows; experimental plot on farm, Caribou Bog, planation beyond Caribou bog and burnt area at Steam Mill Village. On the way home we had a cup of tea at Hantsport. The sun came out at 12:30 p.m. but we ran into rain on reaching Halifax. We got home about 7 p.m.

June 19-21, 1951 (Antigonish, Sheet Harbour and Musquodoboit)
Tuesday to Thursday. Jane Burchell, Ann Marshall and I left for Antigonish about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. We had lunch by the roadside going over Mount Thom and arrived in Antigonish in the middle of the afternoon. The two girls put up at the hotel and I went over to the University and made contacts there. A Father MacDonnell offered to guide me out to Crystal Farm. We picked up the two girls and went out. Then MacNeil (the StFX geology professor) showed us around. When the board meeting of the N.S. Foundation finished, we picked up Dr. Nicholson, took him back to Antigonish with us, dropped the girls at the hotel and went over to the University. After dinner I had a long talk with Dr. Coady and he arranged for me to see interested parties. I had a talk with Chiasson and went to bed. The next morning (Wednesday) Dr. Nicholson showed me all over the University buildings and then we had sort of a meeting on the lawn in front of Morrison Hall. At first Father McIsaac and Anselm Cormier were the chief ones there, but later Father Forrest and Reid Sangster arrived. There were a number of others coming and going. Harold Smith and Foran were around but did not listen to me talk. While I was meeting these people the two girls were being shown around the buildings. After mid-day meal (the girls were given a meal in the female part of the building) we assembled, and the college provided us with a magnificent lunch. Dr. Coady directed us how to take a road through Pinkertown and we started off. We drank the coffee when we got to Lochaber and arrived in Sheet Harbour [coordinates 44.923333, -62.537304] about 5:30 p.m. and put up at the Lindhaven Hotel. I tried to get Peter Stewart on the phone but could get no answer. After supper, I contacted Jack Balcom and arranged for him to straw and burn a blueberry patch. He gave me a drink of rum. Miss Cameron at the Balcom & Chittick store had put our sandwiches in the “fridge”. Next morning (Thursday) I got Mrs. Peter Stewart of Middle Musquodoboit on the phone and arranged to meet her. We then started off for Pleasant Harbour. There I saw Bill James and Harvey Beaver. They (especially Bill) appeared to be interested in showing and burning a blueberry patch. Florence gave us an excellent lunch. We then took the road from Popes Harbour to Center Musquodoboit, and from there to Middle Musquodoboit where we saw Mrs. Stewart. From there we took the road by the river to Musquodoboit, ate our lunch (with the help of a dog) at Lake Echo and arrived in Halifax a little after 6 p.m.

June 25-27, 1951 (Yarmouth)
Monday to Wednesday. Started about 9:30 a.m. Monday morning. MacLean and a student named Kent came with me. Arrived in Yarmouth about 5 p.m. Put up at the Lakelawn Lodge. Had supper with the Shane’s. On Tuesday, C. MacFarlane and I got the articles under way. Returned Wednesday by myself. Got home a little after 5 p.m.

June 29, 1951 (Maplewood and Preston)
Friday. Jane Bailly, Jane Burchell, Ann Marshall and I first went to Maplewood [coordinates 44.626947, -64.622249] and inspected the burnt patches. The one which was burnt in the grass had a magnificent growth. We then went to Lake Eagle [coordinates 44.744956, -63.441597] and made a collection of the tips in the patch which Findlay and I mowed. We went up to the Lake. The water in the run was almost down to normal. We had lunch, I had a sleep, Bailly and Marshall went for a swim and we then went home. We got back to the lab in time for Marshall to pump the material and do some imbedding.

July 12, 1951 (Truro / Bible Hill)
Thursday. Jane Bailly, Jane Burchell, Ann Marshall and I started at 9 a.m. At about Grand Lake the car started to heat badly, and we had to creep along, hence we did not arrive in Truro till about 11:30 a.m. C.M. Collins was still in his office when we got there, and I had a very satisfactory interview with him. We had lunch under the tree beside his building and then went down to the bank beside the river [coordinates 45.370542, -63.266655] and I showed Burchell some Marchantia, which was not so abundant as in former days and was not fruiting. We then drove over to the main building and I had an interview with Dr. W. V. Longley.  It was very satisfactory too. We then started to creep home. Ann drove. We got back to the lab a little after 4 p.m. That evening I went over to the V. G. Hospital and saw Peter Stewart.

July 26, 1951 (Oakfield)
Thursday. Jane Bailly, Jane Burchell, Ann Marshall and I went to Oakfield [coordinates 44.900848, -63.576605] to show Jane Burchell the ferns. Gillian Bedwell came along too. We left after Jane and Ann had make their collections. Col. Laurie was away. On the walk into Indian Point, we collected about ten species of ferns. Had lunch as soon as we arrived. Looked at the ferns, had a sleep, had a swim, then had a walk over to the other field and came home. Met George Grant and his mother at a little shop. Arrived back in Halifax about 5:30 p.m. It was a hot day. On the way out we noticed a “bloom” on a pond on the Halifax side of Waverly. We collected some and it turned out to be Eugena. While bathing at Oakfield we noticed a specimen of the rare Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata L. var neoscotica fern.

July 30, 1951 (C.L. Bennet Summer House, Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Monday. Jane Bailly, Ann Marshall, Jane Burchell and I went to Bennie’s house to see about blueberry patches to be burnt.  We left at 3 p.m. Bennie had just arrived. Ann Marshall went in for a swim while Bennie and I hunted for suitable patches. The best was on top of the hill and could be reached by the back road. Afterwards, I took it easy on the new front platform and the three girls picked blueberries for supper. While picking berries Jane Bailly located the suitable patches. We had supper with the Bennet family. Jimmie and Jane Bennett arrived late, and Jimmie had a birthday cake. The four of us (Botany) got back to the lab about 8 p.m and we each did some work.

August 28-30, 1951 (Pubnico and Sandy Cove)
Tuesday to Thursday. Marjorie and I started off a little after 9 a.m. We arrived in Sandy Cove during the afternoon and put up at the Harbour View Lodge. After supper we drove over to Little River and saw C. MacFarlane.  She was in a bad mood. I looked over her article. The next morning, she came with us to Yarmouth, where we put up at the Lake Lawn Lodge and had lunch. After lunch we went out to Pubnico [coordinates 43.702489, -65.784222] where I met Benoit and strawed a patch of blueberries. We had tea with Mrs. Ruben and saw Allen for a minute. Marjorie liked the meal at the Green Tree Inn. On Thursday we took C. MacFarlane back to Digby and then started for Halifax. We had lunch at the American House Middleton. We got back to Halifax at 4:30 pm.

September 3-4, 1951 (Larry’s River)
Monday and Tuesday. Jimmie and I started about 9:45 a.m. We ate our lunch at the Y.M.C.A. camp at Deep Cove and arrived in Guysborough in the middle of the afternoon. We put up at Grant’s Hotel then went for a drive to Canso to fill in the time. That night it started to rain hard and was raining when we got to Larry’s River [coordinates 45.217726, -61.372273] and saw Father Forrest, but we strawed a blueberry patch and started for home by the main road. We had lunch at Goshen and arrived in Halifax about 5:30 p.m.

September 6, 1951 (Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005], C.L. Bennet’s)
Thursday. Jane Bailly, Jane Burchell, Ann Marshall and I left in my car at 2:30 p.m. Bennie was there already. Marshall and Burchell got off at Bennie’s house and walked through with Bennie. Bailly and I went around in my car by the back road. The bale of straw was in the car. Bennie and the two girls met us at the top of the hill. We all strawed two patches. The girls walked back to the house. Bennie drove back with me in the car. At Bennie’s house Jane Bailly got tea ready and they all washed up. Then we went home arriving about 6:30 p.m.

September 12-13, 1951 (Lake Eagle, strawed patches at MacKeen’s)
Wednesday and Thursday. Jane Bailly, Jane Burchell, Ann Marshall and I went out to the mowed patch at Preston [coordinates 44.715694, -63.434209]. We drove the car right in to the entrance, collected from both the cut plants and natural untreated plants. We were back before noon. It was a hot day.

September 18-19, 1951 (Necum Teuch and Pleasant Harbour)
Tuesday and Wednesday. Started on Tuesday morning by myself in my car. Bill James was not home, so the straw (1 ½ bales) was left with Florence. Arrived at Sheet Harbour about 12:30 p.m. just after dinner, which I had at the local hotel. Jack Balcom drove us over to Necum Teuch [coordinates 44.960862, -62.224272] where we strawed a patch back of Sandy Romkey’s house. Jack then drove us back to his mother’s house at Port Dufferin. The roads were terrible, being in the stage of construction which is the worst possible for traffic. After Mrs. Balcom had given us supper, Jack drove us back to Sheet Harbour and I brought my car to Port Dufferin where I spent the night with the Balcom’s. In the morning, I took Helen to her store in Sheet Harbour and then proceeded to Halifax. At Pleasant Harbour [coordinates 44.789004, -62.728292] I saw Florence and picked out a blueberry patch to be strawed, and at lake Charlotte I had a talk with Bill James. I arrived at the Sword & Anchor in Halifax at 12:55 p.m.

September 25, 1951 (Silver Lake)
Tuesday. Jane Bailly, Ann Marshall, Jane Burchell, Norman Becket and I left at 2:30 p.m. in my car. We collected Desmids at Silver Lake [coordinates 44.556874, -63.642155] and returned via Sambro. Examined the collections when I got back in the lab and they were excellent.

October 25, 1951 (Herring Cove [coordinates 44.568581, -63.556024])
Thursday. The tide was low at 11:00 a.m. so we left about 9:30. Jane Bailly, Jane Burchill and I went and were driven there by Jim Tait in Norman Beckett’s car. There was no Chordaria and very little Laminaria, but we got a few fruiting specimens for class, and got back to the lab in time for coffee and for Burchill’s class.

October 30-31, 1951 (Pleasant Harbour)
Tuesday and Wednesday. Mitchell and I left after Biology 1 lecture. We had a midday meal at the Parker House in Musquodoboit Harbour and then drove on to Sheet Harbour where we put up at the Lindhaven Hotel. We went back to Pleasant Harbour [coordinates 44.789004, -62.728292] about 5 p.m. and Bill strawed a patch in his pasture. Florence gave us a magnificent meal which was very much appreciated by Mitchell. Back at Sheet Harbour, Mitchell spent part of the evening with the Mounties. On Wednesday morning we were back in Halifax by 11 a.m.