96 RAMBLES OF 



to derive some amusement and instruction from the study 

 of the forest itself, my time would have been as fatiguing 

 to me, as it was certainly quiet and solemn. But wher- 

 ever nature is, and under whatever form she may present 

 herself, enough is always proffered to fix attention and 

 produce pleasure, if we will condescend to observe with 

 carefulness. I soon found that even a pine forest was far 

 from being devoid of interest, and shall endeavour to 

 prove this by stating the result of various observations 

 made during the time I lived in this situation. 



The common pitch, or as it is generally called Norway 

 pine, grows from a seed, which is matured in vast abun- 

 dance in the large cones peculiar to the pines. This seed 

 is of a rather triangular shape, thick and heavy at the 

 part by which it grows from the cone, and terminating 

 in a broad membranous fan or sail, which, when the seeds 

 are shaken out by the wind, enables them to sail obliquely 

 through the air to great distances. Should an old corn- 

 field or other piece of ground be thrown out of cultivation 

 for more than one season, it is sown with the pine seeds 

 by the winds, and the young pines shoot up as closely 

 and compactly as hemp. They continue to grow in this 

 manner until they become twelve or fifteen feet high, 

 until their roots begin to encroach on each other, or until 

 the stoutest and best rooted begin to overtop so as entirely 

 to shade the smaller. These gradually begin to fail, and 

 finally dry up and perish, and a similar process is con- 

 tinued until the best trees acquire room enough to grow 



