[ 237 G 



Herbage and Shrubs spontaneously produced^ after Forest 

 Timber burnt ^ by firing the JFoods. By Richard Peters, 



Read March 8th, 1808. 



Belmont, February lOt/i, 1808. 

 Sir, 



In the paper you communicated, as a supplement 

 to that with which I troubled the society, on the ^^ chan- 

 ges of timber and plants,^"* I perceive that you quote 

 ^'' Hearne^s journey to the northern oc<?<2«" for corrobora- 

 tory facts; which are similar to some I should have 

 mentioned, had they not then escaped my recollection. 

 On the tract in which I was interested, and noticed, in 

 Northampton county, as I was informed by ancient peo- 

 ple in its vicinity, strawbetries were thrown up, in most 

 extraordinary profusion, after the combustion of the 

 pine timber; so as to cover a very great proportion of 

 this tract (which contained near 800 acres) where the 

 land was not moist; for parts tof this tract consist of mea- 

 dow ground. The people of the towns, and others, 

 from distances of more than 20 miles, were accustomed 

 to gather and carry off these strawberries, in quantities 

 almost incredible. They continued in the greatest 

 abundance, for several years, while the new growth of 

 timber was progressing, and until it finally banished 

 these plants ; wherof I saw few, when I attended the sur- 

 vey and division, in 1797. The visitants of this then 

 curious spot, were additionally attracted by some small 

 but deep lakes of spring water, which then afforded, 

 ajid nov/ contain trout, in uncommon plenty. The tract 



