38 FIRST AND SECOND FOREST GROWTH. 



hay every year, and the crop carried off by water to 

 Newcastle and Chatham. 



Farther up the river, tracts of hardwood land occur ; 

 but it is a consequence of the great fires which have 

 devastated this region, that the indications of the natural 

 clothing of wood, as to the value of land, cease to have 

 that value and trustworthiness which they possess in 

 other places. Since the great fire of 1825, for example, 

 hardwood, chiefly poplar and white birch, with a sprink 

 ling of maples, has taken the place of the pines, while 

 these again grow almost alone on ridges formerly occu 

 pied by hardwood. It is true that, after a lapse of 

 years, a sorting out of the trees less suited to the soil 

 would probably take place ; but some generations must 

 pass before the forest will assume again the characters of 

 what is called a first growth. This difference between a 

 first and second growth is well known, and is always 

 attended to by those who explore these woods with the 

 view of judging of the agricultural quality of the land. 

 Nor will this appear a difficult thing to do, when it is 

 recollected that the size and age of a few very large trees 

 will indicate the time \vhich must have elapsed since a 

 general destruction of the forest by fire has taken place. 



Among other persons whom I met in the evening was 

 the Presbyterian clergyman of Douglastown, a native of 

 Scotland, who assured me, as the result of his long expe 

 rience, that the winter here is on the whole as agreeable 

 as at home. He prefers travelling, and makes all his 

 visitings, in winter ; finds his health better here, arid that 

 he is less subject to colds. Consumption has been more 

 prevalent during the last few years, chiefly among young 

 persons born in the country. He has known nine cases 

 during the last two years ; but it is quite a new thing, 

 and the old-settled French Acadians are described as 

 being entirely free from this disease. 



As to the prospects of the working farmers on the 



