This is very fascinating to read about, I have done some light research on the history of trees in Nova Scotia, and I have found some other inconsistencies with the modern understanding of native trees and historical records.
One example is in the 1917 Native Trees of Canada (Morton and Lewis) they have Bur Oaks as a native species to southern Nova Scotia, but as you have said, red oak is the only recorded species as being native to Nova Scotian forests. I have always wondered if the loss of Bur oak as a native species was either caused by over harvesting causing them to be lost, changes in nomenclature making it so the species was recorded incorrectly, or some other clerical issue. (Open source [I think] link to the referenced book: https://archive.org/details/nativetreesofcan00mort/page/86/mode/2up)
Loved this awesome narrative! Thank you! It was a most enjoyable read.
This is very fascinating to read about, I have done some light research on the history of trees in Nova Scotia, and I have found some other inconsistencies with the modern understanding of native trees and historical records.
One example is in the 1917 Native Trees of Canada (Morton and Lewis) they have Bur Oaks as a native species to southern Nova Scotia, but as you have said, red oak is the only recorded species as being native to Nova Scotian forests. I have always wondered if the loss of Bur oak as a native species was either caused by over harvesting causing them to be lost, changes in nomenclature making it so the species was recorded incorrectly, or some other clerical issue. (Open source [I think] link to the referenced book: https://archive.org/details/nativetreesofcan00mort/page/86/mode/2up)
Yes! This is exactly on point with what we're working to understand.
We'll follow up with another post about Titus Smith Jr and his 1801 survey next week.