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^Departure of the Southern Pine Tijnber, A Proof of the 

 Tendency in Nature to a Change of Products on the 

 same Soil. By Richard Peters. 



Read September 9th, 1806. 



Belmont, August 30th, 1806, 

 Sir, 



I have formed the outline of a plan, which, as leisure 

 may permit and inclination prompt, I propose more ma- 

 turely to digest; and, in which, I request and invite the 

 members of the Society to assist. The object of it is, 

 to illustrate and enforce the leading principles of good 

 husbandry, proved on experience to be just, by facts, 

 and reasoning deduced from them, taken from the great 

 movements, or less operations of nature. She is the 

 best and wisest instructress ; because she is moved and 

 governed by the all wise creator and governor of the 

 universe. Our task must be to follow her dictates ; and 

 apply her precepts and example, with due discretion 

 and judgment. This mode of disseminating agricul- 

 tural knowledge, appears to me best calculated to con- 

 vince the understanding, and rouse the attention of 

 those, for whose benefit such associations, as that we 

 have established, are intended. To give a specimen of 

 the mode I have in view, (in which I have been more 

 diffuse, than on subsequent occasions may be deemed 

 requisite,) and excite more able exertions in others, I 

 send the inclosed communication; which, with this ex- 

 planation of my motives, I request you will please to 

 lay before the Society. There are few, if any of us, 



