136 MODERN FOREST ECONOMY. 



portion of primaeval forest cultivated in true Kumari 

 style by Kaffirs, with the consent of the proprietor, for 

 which a consideration had been given. 



And in the British Dominion of North America the 

 operation there designated Clearing, may be seen carried 

 out systematically, ruthlessly, and recklessly, which is this, 

 in a somewhat modified form, adapted to the circum- 

 stances of the case, clearing land of forests that it may be 

 used for agriculture. 



In a work entitled Historical and Descriptive Sketches 

 of the Maritime Colonies of British America, by John 

 M'Gregor, published in 1828, in a sketch of the progress of 

 a new settled location upon uncleared forest land, we are 

 told the first object is to cut down the trees, which is done 

 by cutting with an axe a notch into each side of the tree, 

 about two feet above the ground, and rather more than 

 half through on the side it is intended the tree should fall. 

 The lower sides of these notches are horizontal, the upper 

 make angles of about 60. The trees are all felled in the 

 same direction, and after lopping off the principal branches 

 cut into 12ft. or 15ft. lengths, the whole is left in this 

 state until the proper season for burning arrives, generally 

 in May, when it is set on fire, which consumes all the 

 branches and small wood. The larger lops are then either 

 piled in heaps and burned, or rolled away to make fencing 

 stuff. There follows an account of the agricultural opera- 

 tions which succeed, but it is the destruction of the forest 

 with which alone we are concerned here. 



Sometimes there is combined with such operations as 

 have been detailed, the preparation of potash from the 

 residuum of the wood consumed. 



The making of salts is toilsome and laborious, but is 

 considered profitable, especially where it is carried on in 

 conjunction with clearing. 



The extent of land which has been denuded of forest by 

 such clearings is immense. 



What is sought by Sartage is a temporary use of the 



