116 POOK LAND A KELATIVE TERM. 



the hand of man. This tree, so valuable for its large 

 oily nut, is not known in the woods of Nova Scotia ; and 

 it abounds in New Brunswick only in particular places. 

 Along with the Basswood, Tilia americana, it is stated 

 by Dr Gessner to prefer a calcareous soil ; and that pre 

 ference might be inferred from the nature of the rocks, 

 and the name still retained by this settlement of Butter 

 nut Ridge. 



On the highest part of the ridge, which gently slopes 

 towards the west, thick-bedded hard blue limestone 

 occurs, in which, though I examined many exposed 

 surfaces and weather-worn places, I could discover no 

 visible fossils. In many spots it comes to the surface, 

 and over a large extent of the slope the impervious rock 

 is covered by a thin soil. On this, in its wilderness 

 state, the butternut prevailed as the characteristic tree, 

 and invited the earliest settlers, since, where the butter 

 nut thrives, experience has shown that the soil is favour 

 able to the growth of wheat. Towards the west, the red 

 marl and gypsiferous beds come on, and form undula 

 tions of rich land, covered still by a mixed forest-growth 

 of yellow birch, maple, beech, and hemlock. 



This land is now valued by the holders at 10s. an 

 acre. It will take 2 an acre to clear it ; but it will 

 grow all the crops suited to the climate, and it gives a 

 first crop that usually pays the whole expense. In a 

 new country, and among poor settlers, this is called good 

 land. Poor land, among them, is a relative term. Land 

 is called poor which is not suitable to a poor man, which, 

 on mere clearing and burning, will not yield good first 

 crops, and which requires to be stumped and ploughed 

 before profitable crops can be raised. Larch and hem 

 lock land are often of this kind. The thin upper soil on 

 which these trees grow is not rendered fertile by mere 

 burning the wood upon it. A new soil must be turned 

 up first. Thus that which is poor land for a poor man 



