Chapter 15 – 1954

January 23, 1954 (Aylesford Bog and Kentville)
Saturday. Jane Burchill and I started from her house at 8:30 a.m. The temperature at the back of my house was two below zero. Going through Mount Uniacke it was difficult to keep the windows of the car defrosted. Even in the valley it was bitterly cold. We went right through to Aylsford Bog and there we found the whole place a foot under solid ice. So, we went back to the Experimental Farm at Kentville and there we had a very profitable interview with Hockey and Eaton covering the programme for the summer. We ate our lunch in the lab and started for home where we arrived about 4:15. The day was fine but very cold. Jane drove most of the way.

January 26, 1954 (Chebucto Head [coordinates 44.500891, -63.520622])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I went out hunting for cranberry buds. We called for Ann at 2:30 p.m. After some hunting we located a magnificent patch. It was a little grassy hollow near the edge of the cliff. We made a big collection. Back in the lab (about 4 p.m.) Ann and Jane put the material in two killing fluids F.A.A. and Nawaschin’s. The day was fine and mild.

March 26-28, 1954 (Fredericton)
Friday to Sunday. The taxi called for me at ten to eight and I took the 8:15 bus to Bedford, where the three (Hockey, Eaton & Hall) were waiting for me at the cross roads (Superline Service Station). We had a cup of coffee outside Truro. The day was very cold and there was snow in the woods and heavy ice on top of Economy Mountain. The steady and heavy rain stopped during the morning. Hall stopped in to see his people at Parrsboro. At West Brook we saw the Dickinsons and arranged for maple syrup on the way home. Lunch at the bus stop restaurant in Amherst. In New Brunswick, we turned off at Norton, went through Springfield, crossed the river at Evandale and arrived at the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel at 6:20 p.m. After dinner we went to the mezzanine floor and had an informal meeting and discussion. I went to bed at 9:30. The men from Maine were Dr. Hilborn, Dr. Edgar, and Mr. Owen.

The next morning (Saturday) we met at the Experimental Farm and spent the whole morning discussing the various problems. I showed them Burchie’s pictures. We checked out of the hotel after lunch and I saw the Camerons for a few minutes. Started for home about 4:45, having waited for Eaton to help a chap with some report. Went back by the same route by which we had come, had a meal in a Depot Restaurant at Sussex and arrived at the Fort Cumberland Hotel about 10:30. Next morning (Sunday) we left about 9:30, got the maple syrup at the Dickinson’s, and had lunch at Truro. I picked up the Fleet Line bus at the Superservice Station at 2:15 and arrived home at exactly 3 p.m.

April 1, 1954 (Kentville)
Thursday. Marjorie and I left a little after 9 a.m. We went to the Experimental Farm and borrowed the weed burner. Saw Hockey etc. Had lunch at the Cornwallis Inn. Got home at 4 p.m. Burchie and I tried out the flame thrower in our garden. It worked O.K.

April 3, 1954 (Pleasant Harbour)
Saturday. I called for Jane Burchill at 7:30 a.m. We caught the 7:45 ferry. It was raining torrents and there was a heavy wind. At the corner of King and Portland Street I ran into the fire truck. After seeing the police, etc., we kept going and got to Pleasant Harbour about 11 a.m. We saw both Harvey and Bill. It was raining, blowing hard and at times snowing. We could not do any burning, so after showing Harvey and Bill how to start the weed burner, we ate our lunch and came home. Arrived home about 1:30 p.m.

April 16, 1954 (Pleasant Harbour)
Friday. Jimmie and I went down to pick up the weed burner. We ate our lunch at Eric Grant’s place. We saw Harvey and Bill and inspected the places they had burnt. It was a fine day but cool. Jimmie drove all the way. We were home by 5 p.m. If I remember rightly Bill and Harvey had done this burning on April 9 and 10.

April 21, 1954 (Chebucto Head and Sambro)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I left about 2:15 pm to collect Leatherleaf. After making the collection we went on and relocated the find of cranberries at Chebucto Head [coordinates 44.500891, -63.520622] and then went to Sambro and had a look at the place where Robertson’s cabin was burnt down. The growth all around the cottage showed all gradation from severe burn to light burn, so later it should give a good idea of the effort of burning on this type of growth in the area. We were back in the lab about 4:30. The day was warm and sultry.

May 2-4, 1954 (Shelburne, Pubnico and Kentville)
Sunday to Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I started at 2 p.m. and arrived at the Ragged Islands Inn about 6:30, where we put up for the night. Next morning (Monday) we left before 9 a.m. and at Shelburne, we saw John C. Cox, who told us of his burn at Jordan Bay. I saw Cox Sr. and Jane Cox. We arrived at Pubnico about noon, had lunch at the Red Cap and then went out and inspected the burns at St. Ann Point [coordinates 43.595062, -65.799256]. On returning from there we met Benoit at 2:15, had a talk with him and then he took us to inspect the burns of D.M. Morrison on the Greenwood Road. When that was finished it was only about 4 p.m., so we decided to keep going for Annapolis. This we did. We had a cup of tea at Meteghan and telephoned ahead. We arrived at Annapolis a little after 7 p.m., put up at the Queen Hotel, then went out and had supper at “Helen’s” restaurant outside Annapolis.

Next morning (Tuesday) we started at 8:45 and arrived at Kentville at 10:30. Had a cup of coffee at the bus terminal, then went out to the farm. I returned the weed burner then had a talk with Eaton, Hockey and Hall. Don Creelman gave us a fur coat to take to Halifax. We got to Halifax about 2:45, delivered the fur coat, and then went home. We had fine weather all three days.

May 14, 1954 (C.L. Bennet’s, Glen Haven)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I left about 9:15 and went right to Bennie’s place. We tried the back road but did not find it satisfactory so we parked at the front gate. We put wax paper bags around 99 buds and it took us only one hour. We had lunch on Bennie’s verandah and were back in Halifax by 1 p.m.

May 18, 1954 (C.L. Bennet’s, Glen Haven [coordinates 44.643092, -63.909477])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I went down during afternoon. A Mountie inspected the car at intersection of Prospect Road. Burchie did not have her license. We replaced bags on blueberry plants. Bennie, Helene and Jane arrived before we left. We collected some blueberry plants in full bloom beside the railway tracks on the way home, but were unable to get any pollen from them in quantities although the anthers were ripe.

May 20, 1954 (French Village)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the morning to the railway tracks beside the road on the Halifax side of the French Village station and about ½ mile east of the turn off to Peggy’s Cove [coordinates 44.686077, -63.871794]. We had noticed blueberry flowers in bloom there on Tuesday. We made collections of flowers in four different stages and put them in killing fluid immediately. The flies were bad.

May 21, 1954 (French Village)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I went out to the patch by the tracks [coordinates 44.686077, -63.871794] and got flowers for stamens from unopened flowers to try and get pollen, as per suggestion given by Roland. We also collected older pistils from which the corolla had dropped. These last were put in killing fluid immediately. It was raining so we did not go to Bennie’s place.

May 24, 1954 (Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Monday. On Friday afternoon May 21, Jane Burchill and I picked off stamens as per suggestion given by Roland. We had tried this method, and had obtained a considerable amount of pollen, which had germinated on agar. The best germination took place on 1 ½% agar + 10% cane sugar. Ann Churchill, Jane Burchill and I worked all Saturday morning and let the stamens dry in open Petri dishes till Sunday night when I crushed it gently. Burchie came in after church and put some on agar, by Monday morning this had germinated. So, on Monday morning we went off to carry out the pollinating. Marigold Fry and [Jamie] Burchill came along with Jane and myself. We started pollinating at 10 a.m. daylight time and after that made collections every two hours. Helen Bennet gave us coffee and between two of the afternoon collections we went down to Woodens Cove and saw Ann Churchill. We made the last collection about 6.30 p.m. It had started to rain. On the way home the car acted up and stopped completely outside the Irving Oil Gas Station at French Village. The three girls got a lift home with young Campbell and Ernest came out and got me. On Tuesday morning I went out with a jeep from the Provincial Motors and we towed the Austin in.

May 25, 1954 (Bennie’s Place, Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Tuesday morning. As the Austin was in the garage Ann Churchill borrowed their family car and drove Jane Burchill out to make another collection of the flowers we pollinated on Monday.

Tuesday afternoon. Got the Austin back about 4.30 so Ann Churchill and I went down about 5 p.m. and made another collection. I bought a tin of beans on the way home.

May 26, 1954 (Bennie’s Place, Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I went down during the morning and made the final collection of pollinated plants. Before going down Jane visited the violets at 53 Oakland Rd.

May 27, 1954 (Lacey River [coordinates 44.829242, -63.810864])
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I went out to see when the strawberry was in bloom. We went to the same vine from which Tony and I collected the winter buds. We must have been at least a week too late, for all the corollas except one had fallen off. We made a collection and were back in the lab before 5.30 p.m.

May 31, 1954 (French Village [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142])
Monday. Ann Churchill and I went out during the morning for blueberry plants for pollen. We were back by noon.

June 2, 1954 (Bennie’s Place, Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Wednesday. Ann Churchill and I went down during the morning and pollinated eight or nine clusters. It had rained heavily the night before and although it was still and cool, it did not rain. We rebagged and tagged all the clusters we pollinated. We were back before noon.

June 7, 1954
Monday. A.W. MacKenzie called a conference on blueberries in his office. We met at 10 a.m., went all morning, had lunch at the Nova Scotian and continued till 4 p.m. Those present were A.W. MacKenzie, Hockey, Hawbolt, Walsh, Burgess, McSweeney, Collins, Eaton, Creighton and Bill. The general consensus of opinion seemed to be that demonstration plots should be set out in various places. Those present were formed into a committee to meet twice each year.

June 9, 1954 (Glenmore)
Wednesday. Wilfred Creighton called for me at 11 a.m. and we went to his sub-station just beyond Shubenacadie. There he showed me around his park and zoo. After having dinner in his dining hut, we met Burgess and drove out through Middle Musquodoboit. En route we had a flat. From Middle Musquodoboit we went to his farm beyond Glenmore and spent the afternoon inspecting the whole property which was extensive. We came back to the sub-station where we had supper and Creighton had me home by 7 p.m.

June 11, 1954 (Truro)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I left about 9:45 a.m. and went right out to the Agricultural College at Truro. We saw Collins for a few minutes and arranged to see him at 1:30, then went out to the river bank and had lunch. We went back to the College by 1:30 and had a talk with Roland. Collins then took me over to the main building where I met Douglas. We went back to Truro and found Hawbolt’s office, but he was not in it (however I met Benson). We then went out to Debert and saw Beth and Greenidge’s lab. Drove out to the Folly gate then back to Truro where we picked up Jimmie. On the way in the Bedford Highway, the car started to buck. We were home by 7:30.

June 22, 1954 (West Brook)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I started shortly after 7 a.m. and arrived at West Brook [coordinates 45.556847, -64.299251] at 11 a.m. Seymour Dickinson took us over many burnt fields and I could not see that the flame throwing machine did any more damage to the humus layer than the flash fire of straw. He showed us the trouble he was having with weeds and it appeared to me that where he was in most need of assistance was with this weed control. Certain experiments had been started, but they had not been followed up. I had a look at a field just outside Parrsboro which had been burnt with a flame thrower. It looked to be in good condition and no real damage done. We had our lunch on tables beside this field. We went home through the Wentworth Valley, picked up Jimmie in Truro and reached Halifax by about 7 p.m. It was fine all day and at times very warm.

June 29, 1954 (Bennie’s Place, Glenhaven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I left about 3 p.m. and inspected the flower clusters. They were still intact. The ones which had been continuously bagged had not set fruit although the normal unbagged clusters had set quite large fruit. The artificially pollinated flowers had all set fruit. We were back at 5:05 p.m.

July 2, 1954 (Pleasant Harbour)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I started for Pleasant Harbour [coordinates 44.789004, -62.728292] about 9 a.m. We put Bushell on 8 Kalmia and Rhodora at Harvey’s place and our ferns at Boral’s place. Jane has the records and maps of what we did. We saw Harvey but did not see either Bill or Florence. We were back in the lab about 4:20. The day was dull and misty.

July 7, 1954 (Bennie’s Place, Glenhaven and Dover)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I left during the morning and checked the bagged flower clusters on Bennie’s Place. We had lunch at Peggy’s Cove, then went on to West Dover [coordinates 44.495409, -63.876585] where we found a ditch dug through our low cranberry patch. We marked a new patch. We did some exploring and started for home. The car started the old bucking stunt. We managed to get home and picked up the typewriter en route.

July 12, 1954 (Sambro)
Monday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I left about 3 p.m. and visited Robertson’s burnt down house at Sambro [coordinates 44.478563, -63.604887]. Practically no blueberries had come up as a result of the fire, just what was there before namely Gale, Huckleberry, etc. It started to thunder and rain on the way home and we had a flat when in the middle of the Arm hill. Jane and I were back in the lab about 6:30

July 14-17, 1954 (Tower Hill, New Brunswick)
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I left in the Austin at 8 a.m. and drove to Truro. Handed the Austin over to Jimmie and was picked up by Hockey and Hall. We had lunch at Amherst and spent the night at the White House Lodge outside Saint John. Arrived at Tower Hill before noon and had lunch there. General Meeting just after lunch and then went over to the farm. I got hay fever badly. We had our evening meal at a church hall, the blueberry growers “banquet”. Spent the night at Tower Hill with Hockey and Hall.

In the morning the party inspected the entomologists lab and some “big field” a long distance off. I did not go with them. When they got back there was another long meeting at which the chaps from Maine discussed their work. At lunch we had trout caught in the little pond and then had our pictures taken. We were delayed a bit in getting off by Dave talking to Hall but finally got away about 4 p.m. We had our evening meal at the White House Lodge near Saint John, spent the night in some cabins at Sussex where we had breakfast, stopped for coffee at Amherst, looked at Hall’s marked plants at Dickinson’s place, had lunch at Parrsboro, arrived at Bedford at 3:50 and had coffee. Hall and Hockey went on to Kentville. I took the bus and taxi home arriving about 5 p.m.

July 20, 1954 (Sambro)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I went out during the morning to spray a plot on Robinson’s property. We had bought the sprayer the day before. We sprayed a small plot the day before. We sprayed a small plot on the north side of the field using one tank full (2 gallons). We were back by 12 noon.

July 23, 1954 (Pleasant Harbour and Sheet Harbour)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I started at 9:15 and went right to Harvey Beavers place. First, we sprayed the patch in his pasture with “Brushkill”. It took five gallons to cover the old burn. We had lunch on the bench below the church at Murphy Cove and then went to Borgal’s place where we sprayed some bracken fern and sensitive fern, but not where the vines had been burnt. We took a box of notes to Helen Balcom at Sheet Harbour, then home by 6:15. The day was warm a lot of fog, but no rain.

July 26, 1954 (French Village)
Monday. During the afternoon Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I went down to the tracks near French Village [coordinates 44.687808, -63.877807] to get some blueberry plants to see how the flower primordia had progressed.

July 29, 1954 (Truro)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I left at 1:15 p.m. and took the maps of the Pleasant Harbour and Pubnico burns up to Collins etc. Neither Collins or Roland was in Truro but I dictated to Collin’s secretary what we had done. After that Jane and I went on to Pictou (Peggy’s) where we stayed for the night and brought Marjorie home Friday afternoon. It was fine during Thursday and Friday morning but it rained Friday afternoon.

August 3, 1954 (French Village and Bennie’s Place, Glenhaven)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went down during the morning to determine how much of the plant died and if there were a number of flower buds on the same branch. First, we went to the railway tracks near French Village but could not get enough conclusive evidence there so we went on to Bennie’s place and found lots of material to indicate that the whole branch died distal to the most distal vegetative bud. On the way back we bought things at Simpsons, Empire Pastry and MacDonalds.

August 5, 1954 (French Village and Dingle)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I went out to get blueberry buds beside the tracks [coordinates 44.687808, -63.877807]. The buds were needed for early stage of ovary development. Then we went to the Dingle [coordinates 44.630561, -63.59855] to locate good Huckleberry. We found one beside the excavation between a birch tree and the edge of excavation.

August 6, 1954 (Glenmore)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I attended a blueberry “field day” held on Burgess’ farm at Glenmore. There were about 150 present and it lasted from 10 a.m. till about 3 p.m. H.D. Smith was present. The programme is in the files.

August 11, 1954 (French Village)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I went out to the patch beside the tracks [coordinates 44.687808, -63.877807] and collected blueberry buds.

August 12, 1954 (Pleasant Harbour)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I left about 10 a.m. and checked the plots we had sprayed with Brushkill. On the way home we went in to Clam Harbour and took part in the Biology Dept. picnic. We got there about 3 p.m. and had a long walk along the beach. The others arrived about 4:30. Burchie, John and I left at 5:30, to be home for choir practice. There was a very high wind.

August 13, 1954 (Sambro)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the afternoon to check the patch we had sprayed. Vera Facey went with us.

August 25-27, 1954 (Shelburne, Pubnico, Yarmouth and Kentville)
Wednesday to Friday. Jane Burchill, Marigold Fry and I left at 8:30 a.m. Had lunch at the Ragged Islands Inn, and then picked up John C Cox at Shelburne. We first went out to his burns at Jordan Bay and found them not very satisfactory so we went out to his cottage at Round Bay and looked at some grassy spots beside the road near Gunning Cove and Roseway. While at his cottage we looked at the magnificent beach below his house. From there we took the shore road to Port Clyde and then around to Port La Tour where we spent the night at the Oak Lodge. Before supper we went to the Sebim Beach were Jane and Marigold had a swim. The fog came in for part of the time we were there. After supper we drove out to the end of the land, but the fog was so thick, we could see nothing. We also saw the historic monument. Thursday morning, we drove on to Pubnico and with Benoit d’Entremont inspected both our own burn at St. Ann Point and Morrison’s burn along the Greenwood Road. We had a very poor lunch at the Red Cap. Then went on to Yarmouth where we put up at Lake Lawn Lodge, contacted Harry Grant, and had supper at the “Lobster House”. After supper we went out to Cape Forchu where we saw the Boston boat go out and the sun go down. On Friday we had breakfast at the Lobster House, then Harry Grant called for us at 8:30 and took us out to the Kemptville nursery. Thursday had been foggy till noon, but Friday was a beautifully clear day. Harry had a splendid stand of blueberry vines. He drove us out and back in his car. We started along the road a little after 10. Had coffee at an Inn and a very expensive poor lunch at the Headley House. Arrived at Kentville a little after 4 p.m. Had car washed and saw Hockey and Hall. Hockey drove us back to get our car. At Grand Pré we had a look at the statue of Evangeline then had a little supper at Hantsport and were home by 8:30. Friday was fine all day and the scenery along the French shore was perfect.

August 31-September 2, 1954 (Antigonish and Crystal Cliffs)
Tuesday to Thursday. On Monday night I got in touch with Hockey and found that he could not go, so on Tuesday afternoon I started with Ronald in his car along with Livingston and _____________ from Newfoundland. We had our evening meal at Antigonish and then on to Crystal Cliffs where ___________ and I were put up in the same room. Ronald and Livingston went back to the Dingle. On Wednesday we went on a boat trip to the causeway in the Strait of Canso and after dinner I was driven back to Antigonish where I stayed the night at the Royal George. I failed to make contact with the Forest Ranger in either New Glasgow or Antigonish, and hence I did not get to Larry’s River. For me the trip was a complete failure. I returned to Halifax Thursday afternoon by bus.

September 9, 1954 (Bog back of Church and Seabright)
Thursday. I called for Ann at 2:30. First, we went to the bog back of the church [coordinates 44.635810, -63.619719]. There Ann spotted some low cranberries with winter flower buds on them. These we marked. Then we went to the bog at Seabright [coordinates 44.614547, -63.925612] (We had checked herbarium specimens and descriptions on Wednesday). All the plants in the Seabright bog were Vaccinium macrocarpum. I delivered Ann at her house just before 5 p.m.

September 15, 1954 (Truro)
Wednesday. Marjorie and I went to Truro during the morning, saw Jimmie, and Roland. Hawbolt was away. Lunch at the Palliser. Home by 5 p.m. Lovely day.

September 21, 1954 (Pleasant Harbour and Necum Teuch)
Tuesday. Went down by myself during the morning. Ate my lunch at Eric Grant’s place. Harvey Beaver and I measured out an acre plot back of Borgal’s for strawing. Went on to Port Dufferin and picked up Hellen Balcom. She drove me to Necum Teuch and I saw the results Sandy’s father got from his burning. Spent the night at the Balcom’s and got home 1:45 Wednesday. Tuesday was fine, Wednesday raining.

September 24, 1954 (Kentville)
Friday. Went to see Hockey and Ivan Hall but missed them both. Marjorie went with me. Had lunch at the Cornwallis Inn and got some apples.

October 9, 1954 (Windsor Road, Chester)
Saturday. Nora and I went out to the Windsor Road to hunt for the regeneration of Hemlock that Winthrop claimed existed. It did not exist, but there were many young Hemlocks along the side of the road near the power plant and dam [coordinates 44.881228, -64.214664].

October 12, 1954 (French Village)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the afternoon to get [bud], for making counts of small flowers at the tips of the branches.

October 14, 1954 (Pleasant Harbour)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I went down to see if the straw was properly spread. We got there about noon, and shook out some bunches which had not been separated. We went on to Taylor’s Head, had tea with Florence, inspected Harvey’s boat house and were home by 6:30.

October 15, 1954 (Chebucto Head)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I took Ivan Hall out to Chebucto Head to get some tall cranberries (macrocarpon) and some foxberry plants. Dot [Coombs] went with us.

October 20, 1954 (New Glasgow and Antigonish)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I started about 8:40 a.m. and went right through the New Glasgow [coordinates 45.589332, -62.64479]. There I called up MacDonald from the Norfolk Hotel and he took us to the two plots he had picked out. One was at the fire tower and the other adjacent to his nursery (For my report on these and the Antigonish plots, see my letter to Burgess of October 22). After leaving MacDonald we went on to Antigonish. We had our lunch at the entrance to the YMCA camp at Big Cove. All day on the road we met many cars with carcasses of deer tied to the outside of the cars. At Antigonish I picked up MacMillan at his office. He took us out to the plots at Caledonia [coordinates 45.487441, -61.798398]. At first, he took the wrong road which delayed us considerably. We left Antigonish about 4:45 p.m., had a meal at the Open Kitchen and saw Jimmie on the way through Truro. Between Truro and Halifax, the rain was coming down in Torrents. We arrived at Halifax about 10:15 p.m.

October 25-28, 1954 (Conferences in Sydney, Mabou and Parrsboro)
Monday to Thursday. I left with Jane at 10:30 a.m. Coffee at the Open Kitchen. Lunch at the Goshen. Arrived at Isle Royale, Sydney at 7 p.m. The car (Thomas) did not have any power. Supper at the coffee shop. Breakfast by myself at the hotel (Birchie slept in). Gave my speech at the meeting and we all had lunch at the “Airlie” back at the Isle Royale, but the car would not start. I had to get four new spark plugs and new points. The car went O.K. from then on. Arrived at Farquhar House at Port Hawkesbury at 7:00 p.m. and had good meals. Left on Wednesday at 5:45 a.m. for Mabou. Tramped over the highlands and had a box lunch. Back at Hawkesbury about 4 pm. Bought a bottle. Had supper at the Open Kitchen, arriving at the Scotia Hotel about 7 p.m. I saw Jimmie for a few minutes. Next morning, I overslept (rum). Left for Parrsboro at 8:20 a.m. and arrived 9:45 a.m. Attended meeting. I had lunch at Ivan Hall’s home. Started immediately after for Halifax, saw Jimmie again, and arrived home 4:45 p.m.

November 5, 1954 (Truro)
Friday. Marjorie and I started for Truro about 8:30 a.m. We dropped some things for Jimmie at the library, then Marjorie stayed at the Scotia Hotel, and I went out to the Agricultural college and had a meeting with Kinsman, Collins and Endel Karmo.  A very good meeting too. I left Muller’s book with them before going back to have lunch at the hotel with Marjorie and Mrs. Benson. After lunch I went back to the college to get the book, then Marjorie and I went for a short drive out to the North River. We then waited for Jimmie, went to his boarding house and started for home about 6 p.m. We got back about 8:30 p.m. It rained most of the day and there was a lot of traffic on the road while we were going home. On the way home I had a little supper at Stewiacke.

November 16, 1954 (Bog back of Church St. John the Baptist)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went out to re-locate the plants we had marked [coordinates 44.635918, -63.619743]. At first, we could not find anything that looked like flower buds on the marked plants of Gaylussacia dumosa. At the corner with bushes projecting into the bog, there was one plant without leaves that had a few flower buds, but very few. The others did not have any. Just as we were leaving, we noticed one marked plant in the middle of the bog that had lots of buds. I put a big, tall stick beside it. It was beside a big isolated clump of bushes. The Vaccinium oxycoccos was easily located and there were lots of buds. Jane checked one of these in the lab, and it had lots of little flower buds in it.  She also checked the buds from G. dumosa, and they were vegetative. We must go out again. We went out again the same afternoon and located buds in which Jane found florets.

November 18, 1954 (Porters Lake)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I went to Porters Lake [coordinates 44.737684, -63.313075] to locate snowberry stands (Chiogenes hispidula) for winter bud. We drove a short distance down the road on the west end of the lake, left the car beside a barn and walked the remainder of the way. We found an excellent patch on the left side of the road halfway down a hill just beyond the last deserted house and barn and walked the remainder of the way. We marked this and other patches in the same vicinity with curtain rods. We walked on to a house where a man with a dog was carrying wood. He said he had built his house in 1936. We had lunch on an old stone wall on the way back. We were home by 1:30 p.m.

November 26, 1954 (Peter Stewarts, Middle Musquodobit)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I started at 12 noon. First, we went to Elmsdale and told Dot Coons we would be back, then we had a conference with Peter Stewart and then called for Dot Coons. We were back in Halifax by 6 p.m. It was a fine day but dull.

December 22, 1954 (Bog Back of Church. Hosterman’s Grounds)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I went out the first thing in the morning and got winter buds of the low cranberry, bog huckleberry and Rhodora [coordinates 44.635918, -63.619743].

December 29, 1954 (Chester)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill, Hope Clement and I started about 10 a.m. It was raining hard but warm. On the way out the Bay Road we nearly (?) hit a dog. At Chester [coordinates 44.541408, -64.242544], Nora went with us to the golf links. Hope stayed at Constance’s house. We collected mayflower at the same place we got the previous collection. There were some flowers in bloom. Jane took the buds back and put them in killing fluid as soon as she reached the girl’s house. By that time, it had practically stopped raining. We had a big meal and started back for Halifax immediately and got to the lab by 3 p.m. Jane pumped the buds immediately and put them in fresh killing fluid.