[ 3t ] 



There is great reafon to think, that two centuries have hardly 

 elapfed fince many of thefe trees grew in thofe lituations ; and 

 probable reafons might be adduced, to limit the great period of 

 their deflrudion to the age of James the firft of England ; in 

 whofe reign rewards were held out for fettling the kingdom, and 

 clearing its furface of forefts, which, under favour of inceffant 

 wars, and negleded tillage, during a period of eight centuries, 

 had overfpread the face of the country *. 



The harfh and furrowed bark of this pine has occurred to mc, 

 in fuch a perfect flate of prefcrvation, as almofl alone to determine 

 its fpecies f . 



The cones have been found by me at a depth of many feet 

 from the furface of the earth, in fuch condition as almoft to giye 

 hope of raifing plants from their feed |. Marks of the woodman's 



hatchet 



• " In this reign pipe-ftaves was one of the ordinary exports of Ireland ; fo that 

 " a mighty trade was driven with them, and thoufands of trees were felled, every 

 '< year, for this purpofe. A multitude of iron-mills were erefted ; and it is in- 

 " credible how much charcoal a fingle iron-mill will confume in one year. So that 

 " all the great woods, which the maps fhew us on the mountains, between Dundalk 

 " and Newry, are quite vaniflied, except one tree, clofe to tlie highway, at 

 « the very top of the mountain, which, as it may be feen a great way oft^ therefore 

 " ferveth travellers for a mark." 



" Yet there are ftill great woods remaining in Dunnagall, in Tyrone, in Antrim, 

 «« &c." See Nat. Hift. of Ireland by Boates, MoUeneux, and others, written about 

 the middle of the laft century. 



f In BracknaheevHn bog, county of Weftmeath. 



t In Lackbeg bog near Rutland, county of Donegal. 



