Chapter 16 – 1955

January 4, 1955 (Dingle)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went over to the Dingle [coordinates 44.629935, -63.598507] to get the common Huckleberry. During the summer we had spotted the bushes beside the excavation. We got the bushes and were back by 3:30. The roads were quite slippery.

January 10, 1955 (Hubley Big Lake)
Monday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the morning to get bearberry buds [coordinates 44.660729, -63.831997]. I drove all the way into the lake, but it was pretty heavy going on the road in low gear (no.2) all the way. The day was mild with a light drizzle. Snow from Beechville on, ice on all high land.

January 11, 1955 (Porters Lake [coordinates 44.737684, -63.313075])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I had an early lunch and left at 1 p.m. The road into the lake was frozen but there was no snow. We had no difficulty in finding our marked patches of snowberry and got lots of buds. There was a man there with a Maple Leaf milk wagon. The horse and he were hauling logs out of the woods. We met a truck as we were going out. The driver wanted to know if he was on the right road to Isner’s camp. We were back in the lab by twenty to four. On the way home we missed spotting a church we wished to inspect. The day was dull but otherwise ideal.

January 13, 1955 (French Village and C.L. Bennet’s)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I left about 9:50 and went straight to Bennie’s place [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005]. We had with us a blow torch filled with kerosene and we carried up a watering can filled with salt water. We tried the oil on a patch. At first the bushes would not light. Then we soaked them and got an excellent burn. the stream from the blow torch was too fine. When we do it again, we must light the patch with a rag on the end of a long stick. On the way back we collected blueberries at French Village. We were home in the lab by 12 noon.

Febrary 14, 1955 (French Village)
Monday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the afternoon and made the usual collection of blueberry buds beside the tracks this side of the French Village station [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675]. The day was clear with a bright sun, but it was cold about 20°F.

February 21, 1955 (Dingle [coordinates 44.626963, -63.606499])
Monday. Ongoing over the Vaccinium myrtilloides material, I found that it was at slightly earlier stage than the lowbush, but that we had only the one collection, and hence it was desirable to check with a second collection if possible. So, Jane and I went out during the morning to see if we could locate a bush. We found one which I took to be myrtilloides. It was just east of the little pond where I used to collect Mnium and Ostrich Fern. It was beside a little white pine tree and in the bog there was a spruce tree on the ground pointing just south of our brush. Also, there was a big log on the ground lying east and west about twenty or thirty feet south of our bush. We got some rags from Keltic and tied one around a small red maple (?) beside our bush. The day was warm and sunny.

March 3, 1955 (Sheet Harbour [coordinates 44.923333, -62.537304])
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I caught the 9:30 a.m. ferry and went to Dundas garage where we more or less expected to meet Helen Balcom. We waited till nearly 10 a.m. and as she did not appear we went on. It was a very cold day but clear. We had lunch at the Lynnhaven Hotel and met Harry Hussie at 1 p.m. We visited both the burnt over land belonging to the company and his own property at the back of his house. As we were all through our work and it was only a little after 2 p.m. we decided to go home. We made our apologies to Helen Balcom and Miss Nichols, then started for home, arriving at Birchie’s house at about 4:30. Birchie took a lot of pictures with her new camera.

March 10, 1955 (Conference in Bible Hill, Truro)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I left at 8:10 to attend a conference called by Gordon Kinsman. Before the meeting Roland checked over his herbarium for blooming dates of Ericaceae and put the information on the sheet that we took up. We had the conference all morning, had lunch at the Open Kitchen, went to the vendors for a bottle of rum, had the conference till 3:30 in the afternoon, inspected the mechanical straw distributor and started for home at 4:15. Arrived in Halifax at 5:45 p.m. The roads were wet when we went up, but by the afternoon the sun was out and the roads had cleared.

March 16, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142])
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I went to the usual place for blueberry buds

March 30, 1955 (Williams Lake)
Wednesday. Birchie and I went down to the tracks to get rhizomes of blueberry but could not get good ones. Birchie said she and Lyn Martin got good ones at Williams Lake [coordinates 44.620276, -63.605230]. So, we picked up Marjorie and went. We got good rhizomes and then went on to Purcells Cove to see the view. We came back to the lab and had tea. Marjorie came to the lab too. It was a glorious fine day.

March 31, 1955 (Bennie’s Place, Glen Haven)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I left about 9:45 a.m. after loading the car and getting some stove oil. When we got to Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005], we took the back road and got to the rear of Bennie’s place more or less OK. There we deposited the sprayer (filled with kerosene), the oil can with two gallons of stove oil, the buckets and a watering can. I walked on and found a place where the car would turn, and then started to take the car there. On the way down the hill, the right wheels went over a sunspot and sank to the hubs. After some hard labor we got the car out of this hole. We took it down the road, turned it and brought it back. We had the sunspots covered with spruce and I should have been able to make it but I took the car too far to the left and the left side sank into the sunspot. This time, in spite of much labor, we could not get it out. So we had lunch and then started to hunt for horses or oxen. Instead, we met Mr. Goldwin Smith. He gave the car a push and out it came. We left our stuff under the trees. We went home and left the car at Bill’s to get washed. We dropped in at Bly’s Radio. Jane bought a bunch of records and we heard that Diane Oxner did not make the finals.^[1] I walked to the college and got some money at the bank “en route”.

April 1, 1955 (Glen Haven)
Friday. Jane Burchill and I left for Bennie’s place about 9:30 a.m. [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005]. We did not take the back road. All our cans etc. were safe and sound in the woods. We got water and started to use the sprayer, but the nozzle had fallen off. So, I took off the brass tube and used the sprayer or shower producer at the end of the rubber. This certainly delivered oil in the bushes. We cleared the lower branches from a fir tree and burnt halfway around the tree on the southeast side. We did it in small patches at a time. The oil certainly burnt. We had one gallon of kerosene and two gallons of stove oil. We ate our lunch to let the largest patch cool off. When we had used up all the oil, we went home. It was a glorious day but cold at times with a few snow flurries. We were home by 2 p.m. On the way up South Street, I picked up Ronnie and told him what we had been doing.

April 18, 1955 (French Village)
Monday Jane Burchill and I went out to the usual place [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142] for blueberry buds.

April 18, 1955 (Dingle and Chebucto Head)
Monday. Jane and I went out during the morning, first to the Dingle [coordinates 44.626963, -63.606499] where we got Gaylussacia baccata and then to Chebucto Head [coordinates 44.500891, -63.520622] where we collected Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Kalmia angustifolia.  It was misting slightly.

April 19, 1955 (Silver Lake [coordinates 44.556874, -63.642155])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went out first thing in the morning to get Andromeda. At first, we were not sure that we had Andromeda, but Jane found some similar plants on which the leaves were opposite. She noticed this and on comparing these two plants with the mounts we had taken with us, we found that with Andromeda the leaves were alternate, but with Kalmia they were opposite, so the plants (of which we had collected ample material) were Andromeda. As we were coming out of Silver Lake, Mar Swain drove up in his car with his wife and child. They followed us as far as the other end of Doyle Lake. There we turned around, for a man living there informed us that the road to Sambro was very bad. We were back in the lab by 11:20. It was a fine day.

April 19, 1955 (Hubley Big Lake [coordinates 44.660762, -63.831950])
Tuesday. Jane and I went out during the afternoon and got Arctostaphylos. We walked in but saw some big cars which drove in, but the road was bad. At the lake Jane took some pictures. On the way out some boys on bicycles kept us company. We were back in the lab by about 4:30pm.

April 20 1955 (Porter’s Lake [coordinates 44.737684, -63.313075])
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I started at 9 a.m., went across the bridge^[2], and arrived at the house with the dogs at 10 a.m. We walked into the patches of Gaultheria hispidula. Large patches of these were dead. They must have died since we were there on January 11. However, we found enough living for the purposes of our collection. We were back in the lab shortly before noon. The morning was bright and sunny with a fairly high wind.

April 28, 1955 (French Village)
Thursday. Jane, Burchill and I went out early in the afternoon to the usual place [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142] and got blueberry buds. The weather was rainy and cold.

May 3, 1955 (Silver Lake)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Dorothy Coons and I went out to Silver Lake [coordinates 44.556874, -63.642155] for Andromeda. We left about 10:30 a.m. and called Kirby’s Garage on the way out. The Sambro road was very bad. We were back by 12:30 p.m. The weather started dull but turned out fine.

May 3, 1955 (Hubley Big Lake, French Village and Bennet’s Place)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Dorothy Coons and I started at 2 p.m. We walked into Hubley Big Lake [coordinates 44.660494, -63.830700] and collected Arctostaphylos. At French Village [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142] Jane got blueberry buds. Then we went to Bennie’s place [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005] and inspected our burn. Also, we cut down a few trees. We rested a while at Bennie’s house, had some soft drinks at Tantallon and were home by 5:30 p.m. It was a gorgeous day.

May 4, 1955 (Lacey River)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill, Marigold Fry and Dorothy Coons started about 9:45 for Lacey River [coordinates 44.829242, -63.810864] to get Gaultheria hispidula. At first, we missed the entrance to the road and went almost to Mount Uniacke. It turned out that the entrance is just 1/10 of a mile beyond the country boundary sign. The road in to the place where we got the plants was very wet, but we got the plants O.K. We were back in the lab by about 12:15 p.m.

May 4, 1955 (Dingle and Chebucto Head)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill, Dorothy coons and I left about 3 p.m. First, we collected Huckleberry at the Dingle [coordinates 44.629927, -63.598604] and then Fox Berry at Chebucto Head [coordinates 44.500891, -63.520622]. It was a glorious and warm day. The buds of all species had swollen. When we got back to Halifax, we all had tea at my house. Then jane and I went to the lab.

May 10, 1955 (Bennie’s Place and French Village)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I started at 2:30 and collected first at French Village [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142] then went to Bennie’s place [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005] by the lower road. On the way up the hill a man met us and walked up with us. The buds were opening but were not so far open that they needed [bagging] immediately. We decided to leave them be for a few days and to go to Chester on Wednesday. We cut down one fairly large tree. On the way back we had a drink of milk at Tantallon. We were back in the lab by 4:45 p.m. and Lawrence Cameron was there talking to Livingstone.

May 11, 1955 (Chester [coordinates 44.541408, -64.242544])
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I left at about 9:30 a.m. We got gas and oil at the Head of the Bay. Nora took us to the patch of Gaultheria hispidula and we collected the flower buds at about 11 a.m. Burchie killed them immediately. We had lunch at Chester and then Nora went with us to Chester to see Moulton about fixing Jimmie’s bed and I arranged to have it fixed by the Hume Bros. We were back in the lab by 3 p.m. It turned into a fine day but it was cold at first.

May 13, 1955 (Bennie’s Place [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Friday. Jane Burchill, Dot Coons and I went down about 11 a.m. and put bags on the blueberry plants. We took our lunch. It was a good day. We finished clearing the brush and cut down some more trees. We tried to make a parking spot for the car but found a better place down the road. We came home via Prospect. We were home by 5 p.m. just as Cynthia was leaving.

May 16, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142])
Monday. Usual trip for blueberry buds. On the way out Burchie and I went to the bank. On the way home Birchie went to cousins for something being cleaned.

May 18, 1955 (Pleasant Harbour [coordinates 44.789004, -62.728292])
Wednesday. Marjorie and I left about 10 a.m. It was a glorious day. We had our lunch on the verandah of Eric’s house. Everywhere else we were eaten alive by flies. First, we went to Harvey’s place and saw him playing with his new tractor. Then we saw Mrs. Beaver who was looking and feeling pretty sick.  She was just recovering from a long illness. (I forgot on the way through Musquodoboit Harbour, I went to both the office and house of the District Forester, Ralph Redmond. He was away, but we saw his wife and baby.)  After seeing Mrs. Beaver, I inspected the place that Birchie and I had treated with 2-4-D. The bushes were well killed. At Florence’s I picked up Bill and inspected the plots back of Borgal’s. The 1954 burn was badly infested with Lambkin and the blueberry bushes had only four or five flower buds per stalk. The 1955 burn with straw was a good clean burn, and if the place is any good for cultivating blueberries, there should be a good growth. Back at Florence’s we had a cup of tea. At Musquodoboit Harbour I looked in again at the District Forester’s house, but he had not returned. We were home by about 4:30 p.m.

May 19, 1955 (Hubley Big Lake and Black Lake)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I started at 2:15 and drove right into Hubley Big Lake [coordinates 44.660494, -63.830700]. The Chamaedaphne calyculata was in full bloom with all flowers out. It had certainly been in bloom for some time. The Arctostaphylos uva-ursi was just coming into bloom. Some flowers were fully out, while others were still buds. We went from there out the Sambro Road, and after making enquiries at Kirby’s etc. we took the back road. We gave a school boy a lift. We got to Black Lake OK and found enormous mats of Gaultheria hispidula. It was in full bloom. The road was much better than it had been. The school boy said the grader had just been over it. We came home via Sambro and reached the Forrest Bldg. at 5:55 p.m.

May 20, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Friday. Jane Burchill, Judy and I went down early in the afternoon to see if any bags had come off. Very few had. We went in by the back road. A load of lumber came in while we were there. I drove in the corner stakes. We were back by 4 p.m.

May 21, 1955 (Hubley Big Lake)
Saturday. Jane Burchill left at 9:10 a.m. and drove right into Hubley Big Lake [coordinates 44.660494, -63.830700]. We collected Arctostaphylos for fully open flowers for sectioning in case we needed them for its type of ovule development. We also collected some Arctostaphylos and Chamaedaphne to press and make mounts for Hazel Winthrop. The day was fine warm and sunny.

May 24, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.632071, -63.915142])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went out to the usual place for blackberry buds. On the way home we spotted a good clump of Rhodora opposite the Lakeside garage.

May26, 1955 (Bog back of St. John the Baptist, Dingle, Lakeside, Frog Pond)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the morning. First, we went to the bog back of the church [coordinates 44.635918, -63.619743]. The school children were having recess. The Chamaedaphne blossoms were falling. Rhodora was in blossom. Ledum buds were swollen but quite far from blooming. Kalmia angustifolia showed no signs of life. At the Dingle [coordinates 44.629772, -63.598447] Gaylussacia baccata flower buds could be seen, but were far from being in bloom, for the flowers were still minute. At the frog pond [coordinates 44.625025, -63.604843] Rhodora was out and the Chamaedaphne was practically over. At Lakeside [coordinates 44.637029, -63.701036] the Rhodora was not out. We called at Bligh’s both going and coming. While we were out it started to rain very hard.

May 30, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Monday. Jane Burchill, Dot Coons and I went out during the morning. Jane pollinated about fifty flowers. The morning was dull but it did not rain.

May 31, 1955 (Bennie’s and French Village)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the morning [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005]. Jane cross pollinated with some Myrtilloides pollen we had collected the day before. She also pollinated some more Angustifolium. On the way back we made a collection by the tracks at French Village [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675]. It rained before we went out and very heavily afterwards, but it was not raining while Jane was pollinating.

June 1, 1955 (Bog back of Church and Silver Lake)
Wednesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I started about 9:45 a.m. We got gas and air at Bill’s. We got to the church [coordinates 44.635918, -63.619743] about 10:15 a.m. and the school children got their recess while we were in the bog at 10:20. In the bog the Kalmia polifolia was in full bloom. The Ledum is showing signs of coming out, and Gaylussacia baccata had the closed flower hanging free but closed. While we were getting in the car a girl fell down the stairs. We then went to Silver Lake [coordinates 44.556874, -63.642155]. There everything was much later than at the bog back of the church, but the Andromeda was in full bloom whereas the Kalmia polifolia was still in tight flower buds. Hence Andromeda is at least a week ahead of the Kalmia polifolia. At Silver Lake the Ledum showed no sign of blooming. Even some of the Rhodora was not out there.

June 2, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Thursday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I went out during the morning and collected for pollen tube growth.

June 2, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Thursday. Jane Burchill and Ann Churchill went out during the afternoon and collected flowers that had been pollinated on Monday to check pollen tube growth. I stayed in the lab. It was a dull a day with heavy fog.

June 3, 1955 (Bennie’s and Dover)
Friday. Ann Churchill and I went out about 9:30 a.m. and made the regular collection at Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005]. We ate lunch at Ann’s house and walked three miles down the Old St. Margaret’s Bay Road. After a rest, we went down to Dover and found Kalmia polifolia flower unopened. In another bog on the opposite side of the road near Peggy’s cove I found a great quantity of Bake Apple in full bloom. We then made the second collection at Bennie’s and were home by 4:30 p.m.

June 4, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Saturday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the morning and made the usual collections. It was a dull foggy day. On the way home we went to Kirby’s where they said the exhaust pipe was broke. We then went to Spring Garden Road and got two loaves of bread.

June 4, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Saturday. Jane Burchill took the car with her mother, Judie and Marigold, and made the afternoon collection. I stayed home and worked in the garden. While out Jane took in Peggys Cove.

June 6, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Monday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the morning and made two collections: one 6th day and the other 7th day.

June 7, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill and I went out about 11 a.m. and made a promiscuous collection for fertilized plants. That afternoon I examined many of the flowers and very few of them were pollinated. It has been raining every day since May 30 (10 days ago) and not really fine weather for a few days before that.

June 9, 1955 (Bog back of Church, Dingle, Frog Pond and Chebucto Head)
Thursday. Jane Burchill and Ann Churchill went out during the morning to check the flowers which were coming into bloom. The following are Jane’s observations and conclusions:

Ledum is beginning to bloom at every spot visited. Gaylussacia baccata showed a few flowers blooming at the Church bog [coordinates 44.635918, -63.619743] but none could be seen in bloom elsewhere. [Baccata], however in the other spots will probably bloom in a day or two. Vaccinium vitis-idaea at Chebucto head [coordinates 44.500891, -63.520622] showed flowers just coming out of the bud and is considerably behind the other two.

June 9, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Thursday. Jane Burchill and Ann Churchill went out to Bennie’s and made a collection of pollinated plants for embryo development.

June 11, 1955 (Chebucto Head and Dingle)
Saturday Ann Churchill and I went out to check blooms at Chebucto Head [coordinates 44.500891, -63.520622] the Ledum was quite far out and the Gaylussacia flowers were ready to open but had not quite opened. The vitis-idaea was still in a tight flower bud. At the Dingle [coordinates 44.629935, -63.598507] we found one Gaylussacia flower open. The others were closed.

June 13, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675])
Monday. Jane Burchill and Ann Churchill went out during the afternoon and made a promiscuous collection.

June 15, 1955 (Dingle [coordinates 44.629935, -63.598507])
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and I went out during the morning to check the plants that we had tagged during the winter, thinking it was Vaccinium myrtilloides. We had a terrible job finding the place. The puddle was all filled in with dead trees. Having at last found it, the plant turned out to be Gaylussacia baccata in full bloom. On the way back we had coffee with Keltie, and got Marjorie a quart of butter milk.

June 15, 1955 (Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Wednesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I went to Bennie’s to finish the collections there. We took the bags off all the crosses, most of these had set. We went out during the afternoon, which was fine and warm.

June 17–18, 1955 (Musquodoboit Harbour, Pleasant Harbour, Sheet Harbour, Port Dufferin)
Friday and Saturday. Went off by myself at 9 a.m. Friday morning. I first called for Ralph Redmond at Musquodoboit Harbour [coordinates 44.787246, -63.148102]. He took me to the place being operated by the Dutchman, J. Perons.  There was a magnificent growth of blueberry plants. They had been burnt during the spring of 1954. I got badly bitten by flies. I promised to lend Perons a blueberry rake. I ate my lunch on the verandah of Eric’s house at Ship Harbour [coordinates 44.807839, -62.882569] then looked at the place Birchie and I had sprayed with Brushkill. Most of the patches of Lambkill were certainly dead but, in many cases, the surrounding fringe of blueberry plants was still alive. We must finish off what Lambkill that is left. Harvey was ploughing a new field on top of the hill. The places where he had burnt brush were well covered with blueberry plants. The Rhododendron plants to which Birchie and I had given the “glove treatment” were mostly dead, but new ones were coming up. Florence and Bill were both away. At Sheet Harbour [coordinates 44.923333, -62.537304], Helen Balcom could not leave the store when I arrived, so I waited for her. We then drove to some point where there were supposed to be blueberry barrens, but they had all grown up. In any case, the place was not suitable for many reasons. After supper we went back to Sheet Harbour and I met Harry Hussey who told me about a good blueberry patch 10 ½ miles up the Musquodoboit Road. The field on the north side of the road is owned by D.K. McDermaid and on the south side by Dr. Doull. He said that Burgess could get information on this land from Elmer Irwin, Mill Superintendent at the Pulp Company in Sheet Harbour. Back at Port Dufferin [coordinates 44.913976, -62.384088] I looked at a field owned by Mrs. Balcom, but there were no blueberry plants there. Saturday morning Helen lent me the boy from the store and he went out the Musquodoboit Road with me and showed me the two fields Hussey told me about. They are ideal places for burning blueberries. On the way back to Dartmouth, I saw Florence and she gave me cup of tea. I did not get to 53 Oakland Rd. until 1:30 p.m. Marjorie thought I had been killed because she expected me at 1:00 p.m.

June 20, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675])
Monday. Jane Burchill and Ann Churchill went out during the afternoon to make the usual collection. It started to thunder and rain very hard while they were out there.

June 21, 1955 (Truro etc.)
Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Chruchill and I started at 8:00 a.m. For a long distance we were held up on the road by a long trailer truck and did not arrive at Bible Hill until ten after ten. There we met Ivan Hall and all got into Gordon Kinsmen’s car and drove out to the blueberry field, which was well beyond Londonderry [coordinates 45.47484, -63.603141]. There we met the bee man Endel Karmo. We spent the whole day in the field. The weather was not right for the bees because the sun was not out and the bushes were wet, but they showed us their procedure. The black flies were bad, so they gave me a net to wear. Gordon Kinsman had taken lunch for everyone, but we had ours with us. We left Truro at 4:20 and were in Halifax by 6:10 p.m. Near Waverly, a truck just ahead of us blew one of its double tires. Jane and Ann made a promiscuous collection B 331.

June 27, 1955 (Truro)
Monday. Jane Burchill and I left about 9:30 a.m. I gave a talk to the Kiwanis Club and afterwards saw Gordon Kinsman and Endel Karmo. We were home about 4:45 p.m.

June 28 1955 (Kentville)
Tuesday. Marjorie and I started early and got to Kentville about 12:15 p.m. Enroute, we called at the farm [coordinates 45.069260, -64.477226] and arranged for a meeting at 2:00 p.m. We had lunch at the Cornwallis Inn and met Hill, Bishop and Ivan Hall at 2:00 p.m. We must have talked for over an hour. I still do not know exactly who he is or why he wished to see me. I got butter-milk for Marjorie and a bottle of rum for myself. We were home before supper.

June 28, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675])
Wednesday. Jane and Ann made the usual collection.

June 29, 1955 (Bog back of Church [coordinates 44.635918, -63.619743] and Chebucto Head [coordinates 44.500891, -63.520622])
Wednesday. Jane Burchill and Ann Churchill went out to both of these places to check blooms. Kalmia angustifolia is coming out into full bloom. Vaccinium oxycoccos is completely out and Vaccinium macrocarpon is not out but sill in bud.

July 6, 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675])
Wednesday. Birchie, Judy and Ann Churchill went for promiscuous collection. I was away.

July 6-9, 1955 (Conference U.S.A.)
Wednesday to Saturday. On Wednesday July 6, Ray [McGarvey] called for me about 9:30 a.m. Ray delivered some apparatus for George Smith at the Agricultural College and we arrived at Moose Lodge just after 12 noon. There we were delayed waiting for, and having lunch with H.D. Smith and did not leave until 2:00 p.m. At Salisbury N.B., Ray called up the Admiral Beatty Hotel and engaged a room for the night. We had supper at Sussex and arrived at the Admiral Beatty early in the evening. Ray went to a Charlie Chaplin movie and I went to bed. On Thursday we left shortly after 8:00 a.m. We called at the Biological Station in St. Andrews, but the man Ray wanted to see was not there. We got some American money at St. Stephens and crossed the border before noon. Had lunch at East Machias and arrived at Harrington about 4:00 p.m. our time. Ray and I had a room in the Harrington Hotel beside the room occupied by the [Dave] and Hall. We started discussions right away. Had supper in the hotel and discussions all evening.

Friday morning, we had breakfast in the hotel. [Dave] and Hall moved from Ernest Eaton’s car to ours, then we went over the experimental blueberry plots all morning and ended the conference with lunch in the “Country Kitchen” at Columbia Falls.

We left for home about 2:00 p.m. and crossed the border about 5:00 p.m. Dropped [Dave] and Hall, then kept going. Had Supper ($2.50) just outside Saint John and at Sussex, Ray checked our reservation at the Marshlands Inn. We arrived at Midnight.

On Saturday morning we left at 5:10 a.m. and started for home. Called at HD’s place but he was not home. Arrived at 53 Oakland Rd. about 1:15 p.m. All four days were clear and very hot. My hay fever did not get bad until Friday noon.

July 15 1955 (French Village [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675] and Bennie’s [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Friday. Jane Burchill, Dot Coons and I started just about 3 p.m. First, we went to the patch on the hill just to see what it was like. A man along the back road was getting electric light wires installed along the road, so we walked part of the way. There was no sign of berries developing from our crosses. Then we went along the shore road and I arranged with Willis Dauphine to dig a fire break around the patch. On the way home we made a promiscuous collection at the tracks.

July 19, 1955 (Pleasant Harbour [coordinates 44.789004, -62.728292] and Musquodoboit Harbour [coordinates 44.720392, -63.101825])
Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Chruchill and I started about 10:00 a.m. and had lunch on the beach below the Church. First, we sprayed the old patch in Harvey Beaver’s pasture, then looked at the area back of Borgal’s and finally visited Florence and Bill. We were back in town about 4:20 p.m. and on the way I paid a visit to the [vendors]. It was a fine day, but started to rain on the way home. I forgot to mention that on the way through Musquodoboit Harbour we visited the filed which had been shown to me by Ralph Redmond. In on field there were places when there was no set of fruit and as a whole the set was poor.

July 26, 1955 (Bog back of Church [coordinates 44.635918, -63.619743] and Sambro [coordinates 44.478563, -63.604887])
Tuesday. Ann Churchill and I went out during the afternoon just to the Bog back of the Chruch to get some Labrador Tea so as to answer [Sifton’s] letter. Then we went to Sambro and saw the patch we sprayed last year. Everything was dead except the Labrador Tea and the Bracken fern. I was surprised by the Labrador Tea. The blueberry plants along the ground were still living. On the way out to Sambro we had a flat and got it fixed at Kirby’s. We did not get home until 6:00 p.m.

July 31-August 2, 1955 (Pubnico)
Sunday to Tuesday. Jane Burchill, Hope Clement and I left at 1:30 p.m. We had some milk at Bridgewater and spent the night at the Victoria Hotel at Barrington Passage. We went out to Port La Tour but saw nothing on account of the fog. We left a little after 8:00 a.m. the next morning. At Pubnico, we checked our reservations for the night in Yarmouth, then called for Benoit D’Entremont. With him we had a look at our blueberry burns and then went out the Greenwood Rd. [coordinates 43.716865, -65.786828]. He took us part way out the nine mile cut-off then we went on without him. We had lunch in Barrington Passage. I picked up my penknife which I had forgotten. On our way past Pubnico we called at the [vendors] then headed for Yarmouth where we put up at the Lakelawn Lodge. Before supper we went out to Cape Forchu where it was thick fog, but otherwise O.K. After supper we went through the Anglican Church and then had a look at the new terminals and dock for the boat. On Tuesday morning we left at 9:00 a.m. and had some coffee outside Annapolis. It started to thunder etc. shortly after we left Yarmouth and the storm stayed with us all day. We had lunch at Middleton, took the road through New Germany to Bridgewater then home. Shortly after we left Chester it rained very hard. We were back in Halifax at ten minutes to six. Birchie drove all the way. Monday was fine but dull.

August 5, 1955 (Conference and Field Day, West Brook)
Friday. Ann Churchill and I started at 8:30 a.m. Had lunch at the Moose Head Lodge and arrived at West Brook [coordinates 45.556847, -64.299251] about 1:45 p.m. The conference lasted till 4:15 p.m. One man told me about getting rid of Kalmia angustifolia by ploughing. He said the blueberries grew in after he had grown a crop of oats. His name was Gus Graf and he lived in Windham, six miles from Springhill on the Collingwood Road. I told him I would visit his field. On the way back we had an evening meal at the Palliser in Truro. Outside Truro, Ann bought a basket. We were back in Halifax by 9:45 p.m.  Ann telephoned from Truro that we would be late. Ann drove all the way. It was fine all day.

August 8-9, 1955 (Pictou)
Monday and Tuesday. About 10 am, Monday morning, I started off with Peggy, Peter, Georgie and the dog. We had lunch at the Open Kitchen and arrived at Pictou [coordinates 45.676017, -62.708861] about 2 p.m. Peggy got money, groceries etc., then we went out to her house. During the afternoon I went over to Don Webster’s place and saw the patch he had burnt. It was very poor. I spent the night at Peggy’s. Took her to town in the morning, put a bolt on her front door and started for home at 11:20 a.m.  Outside Truro I picked up a boy and his girl. They got off at Sunnyside. I got home at 2:20 p.m.

August 11, 1955 (French Village)
Thursday. Jane, Ann and I went out to the tracks [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675] and collected rhizome tips. They were collected at 11:00 a.m., the Lord’s time.

August 15–17, 1955 (Conference, Goshen)
Monday to Wednesday. Jane Burchill, Ann Churchill and I left at 12:30 p.m. sharp. We had coffee etc. at the Open Kitchen and arrived at the Royal George in Antigonish about 5 p.m. Before dinner we bought some juice for Tuesday and after dinner, we drove out to Crystal Cliffs. We arranged to be provided with lunch for Tuesday and after breakfast on Tuesday we left at 9 a.m. and arrived at the site for the field day at 8:50 a.m. Monday had been very hot, but Tuesday was not so bad. The field day went off OK and was over by about 3 p.m. Then it started to rain. I went with a district forester Ralph Hale to a place about two miles outside Goshen [coordinates 45.378104, -61.973163] to see a possible site for a blueberry operation on some crown lands under his control. It was an excellent piece of land for the purpose. Jane and Ann did not come with us. After rejoining Jane and Ann, we headed for Marie Joseph and arrived there about 5 p.m. H.D. Smith was there before us. After supper I went for a walk. Jane and Ann went for a drive. I put up in the house. Jane and Ann were in a cabin. On Wednesday after breakfast we drove to the big barrier reef beyond Marie Joseph, there was one good blueberry possibility there. We then drove to Mitchell Bay down the shore from Ecum Secum. There was nothing there. In Sheet Harbour, we had something to eat at MacDonalds Restaurant. This was horrible. Saw Helen Balcom and headed for home. Outside Musquodoboit Habour we had tea at a very nice tearoom run by an old soldier named “Rawlings”. We got home about 5 p.m. Ann and Jane shared the driving.

September 6, 1955 (French Village)
Tuesday. Ann Churchill and I went out by the tracks [coordinates 44.690833, -63.881675] and picked some blueberries. Jane Burchill and party drove by while we were there.

September 7, 1955 (West Brook [coordinates 45.556847, -64.299251])
Wednesday. Ann Churchill and I left at 7:30 am. Sharp. We arrived at Dickenson’s house just before noon. Seymour drove us to Gus Graf’s place at Windham. There was very little growth in the field Graf had told us about. Back at Dickenson’s place, Seymour and I went out and did some digging. On the way home we had tea at a new restaurant and later Ann bought some apples and corn. It rained between Parrsboro and West Brook, both going and coming. We were back in Halifax at exactly 6:10 p.m. We left West Brook at 2:10 p.m.

October 5, 1955 (Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Wednesday. During the afternoon Byron Reed took Ronald’s truck and transported three bales of straw to our plot.

October 12, 1955 (Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Wednesday. Ann Churchill and I went down during the afternoon and cut down the bushes to have the place ready for the show. On the way back we called at Kirby’s to check on Mitchell’s car.

October 17, 1955 (Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005] and Glen Margaret [coordinates 44.578878, -63.912753])
Monday. Ann and I went out during the afternoon and spread straw first at Bennie’s and then at her place at Glen Margaret. It started to rain just as we finished.

October 24, 1955 (Glen Haven [coordinates 44.641999, -63.91005])
Monday. Ann Churchill and I went out during the afternoon and spread Ammonium nitrate on the plot.

October 26 – 27, 1955 (Conference, Parrsboro)
Wednesday and Thursday. Marjorie and I (Ann Churchill was sick) left at 1 p.m. and arrived in Parrsboro about 5 p.m. where we put up at the Cumberland Inn (a great mistake). The meetings took place all the next day (Thursday). We left at 3:40 p.m.and were back in Halifax at 7:30 p.m. The weather was fairly cold, but no rain or snow.

November 9, 1955 (Kentville)
Wednesday. Marjorie, Ann Churchill and I started at 8:30 a.m. We got to Kentville about 10:20 a.m., dropped Marjorie in town, then went back to the farm. Talked with Hall and Hockey till noon then went to the Cornwallis Inn. There was a big health officer convention there. I had lunch then went back to the farm. Talked with Hockey and Hall some more. Marjorie and Ann bought apples en route. We were in Halifax by 5 p.m.

November 15 – 16, 1955 (Pubnico)
Tuesday and Wednesday. Ivan Hall and I started in his car from my house at 8:20 a.m. We had lunch at the Ragged Islands Inn and arrived in Pubnico [coordinates 43.702489, -65.784222] before 3 p.m. We located Benoit, picked out three plots, then went on to Yarmouth where we engaged rooms at the Grand Hotel. Next morning (Wednesday) we left a little after 8 a.m. and were in Kentville before noon. I had lunch at the Kent Lodge, visited Lockhart’s, then took the bus home getting in at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday was fine but windy and cold. Wednesday was a fine day with little wind.