IQ4 THE DECIDUOUS FOREST DISPLACING PINES. 



and reckoneth with them," * and found that some had 

 proved faithful and profitable. Each of these therefore 

 according to their respective merits, was rewarded and 

 prospered in various degrees; while those who were 

 unprofitable and worthless were cast forth, and their 

 possessions passed into the keeping of others such 

 is the invariable law of nature. 



Upon the destruction of the primeval forest, the new 

 growth of trees is not always immediate ; there is fre- 

 quently an interregnum, during which the ground is 

 occupied by various forms of herbaceous vegetation, 

 according to the nature of the soil and locality. The 

 ground is generally first covered by a luxuriant 

 herbage of sweet grasses and ferns, which afford a de- 

 licate pasturage, most attractive to all grass-feeding 

 animals whose home is in the forest large numbers 

 of these quickly discover and resort to these places, 

 which thus become the favourite sporting grounds of 

 the hunter in search of game, who should always 

 endeavour to discover, and make himself acquainted 

 with, the lie of such localities. It is not long however 

 before the young trees begin to appear ; and Mr. Rowan, 

 an old settler, and a careful and intelligent observer 

 of the forest fauna and flora, thus describes the usual 

 course of Nature: 



" Where a deciduous forest has been cut down or destroyed 

 by fire, spruce and firs rapidly spring up. Where a pine forest 

 has been destroyed, blueberries and raspberries grow in 

 immense profusion, for two or three seasons; then cherry, 

 white birch, maple and poplar commence to make their 

 appearance, and shoot up with surprising rapidity ; and soon 

 a forest of deciduous trees replaces the ancient pine forests, 

 * Matt. xxv. 19. 



