THINNING AND PRUNING. 29 



that, in many soils, the trees should at last be unable to ob- 

 tain sufficient nourishment, and should consequently thence- 

 forward begin to cease to grow, and finally perish from inan- 

 ition. We do not find this taking place on our rich intervales, 

 and it might every where, probably, be prevented by sup- 

 plies of fresh, nourishing soil. The proper inference, therefore, 

 from the fact that trees are dying on the ground, is, that their 

 appropriate nourishment is exhausted, and that, if the ground 

 is to be continued in forest, it should be sown or planted with 

 trees of some other kind. 



This is clearly indicated by what is constantly going on in 

 the forests, particularly the fact which I have already stated, 

 and which is abundantly confirmed by my correspondents, that 

 a forest of one kind is frequently succeeded by a spontaneous 

 growth of trees of another kind. Mr. P. Sanderson, of East 

 Whately, writes me, "There is an instance, on my farm, of 

 spruce and hacmatack being succeeded by a spontaneous growth 

 of maple wood." Mr. Metcalfe, of Lenox, says, — "A forest of 

 beech and maple is now growing on my father's farm, where 

 stumps of white pine and some of oak and chestnut, are very 

 numerous and very large." Oaks and pines most frequently 

 succeed each other. Mr. E. Swift, of Falmouth, writes,' — 

 " Many instances have occurred in this town, of pine lands 

 having been cleared of the pine timber, which has been suc- 

 ceeded by a spontaneous growth of oak." J. H. Cobb, Esq., 

 of Dedham, says, — "I have known pine succeeded by hard 

 wood in several instances." Mr. S. Freeman, of Brewster, de- 

 clares, — "I have known frequent instances, where a forest of 

 oaks has been entirely cut down, and succeeded by a growth of 

 pine, and vice versa." Mr. W. Bacon, of Richmond, writes, — 

 " We have seen hemlock succeeded by white birch in cold 

 places, and by hard maple in warm ones ; beech succeeded by 

 maple, elm, &c." I have many similar statements from all 

 parts of the State. Indeed, the Hon. D. P. King, of Danvers, 

 tells me that the fact is so universally admitted, that he is sur- 

 prised at my asking the question. 



This alternation is not, however, universal. In order that it 



