THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



DECEMBER, 1835. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. [Conclusions on the Results on the Vegetation of Nova 

 Scotia, and on Vegetation in general, and on Man in general, of 

 certain Natural and Artificial Causes deemed to actuate and 

 affect them. By Mr. TiTus Smith. Communicated by R. G. 



R. G. sent the following dissertation, as cut from a colonial 

 paper, and, with it, information that " it has not appeared in 

 any other publication," and that the author of it " is a person 

 of confessedly great and original talent ; one who has been 

 almost entirely self-taught in every branch of knowledge with 

 which he is acquainted ; and " that u his original genius, and 

 his acquisitions, have been the means of introducing him to 

 the correspondence of Dr. Grey of Edinburgh, and other 

 persons of scientific pursuits." 



The dissertation in the printed copy is headed, " Natural 

 History of Nova Scotia ; " and this heading is followed by 

 this preface : — " The following Paper was read by Mr. Titus 

 Smith, the Philosopher of the Dutch Village, before the 

 Halifax Mechanics' Institute, on Wednesday evening, the 

 14th January. It abounds with original views, minute and 

 curious information, and furnishes additional evidence of 

 the richness of those stores which a life of observation and 

 reflection has accumulated in a naturally powerful mind."] 



Some knowledge of the vegetable productions of the earth 

 is necessary to every man. But, to the man who cultivates 

 the soil, it must be particularly useful to learn the means by 

 which its fertility is preserved or increased in those situations 

 where the hand of man has never disturbed the operations of 

 nature. It is found, by long experience in America, that 

 woodland, when first cleared, will yield a succession of good 



Vol. VIII. — No. 56. z z 



