104 On the comparative imlue of Soils ^ ^c, 



they appear calculated to grow on any grounds, which 

 are not too poor to afford them sufficient support ; but 

 neither those, nor any other timber, are found luxuri- 

 ant, unless the ground on Vv^hich they are growing is 

 rich, but there are certainly a variety of timbers, which 

 have not been furnished with properties, to flourish 

 equally on moist, dry, open, or adhesive soils, and on 

 neither of those grounds, whether rich or poor, will 

 timber prevail, which nature has endowed with pro- 

 perties inconsistent with the soil ; consequently, those 

 persons who estimate the value of lands, by the kinds 

 of timber which grow on them, may pass by rich lands, 

 and fix on those which are greatly inferior, merely be- 

 cause they happen to be furnished with properties to 

 grow their favourite timber, which now occupies the 

 room of some others, that had previously covered the 

 same grounds. 



After, those prefatory observations, I proceed to 

 state the leading facts, which have proved, to my en- 

 tire satisfaction, the periodical and fortuitous changes 

 of timber on the same grounds. 



Ocular demonstration clearly discovers, that yellow 

 pines have, at some time, prevailed throughout this 

 extensive country, although they are at present so thin- 

 ly scattered, in this settlement, that the inhabitants 

 have recourse to their knots for making tar ; they are^ 

 also, almost exclusively used in place of candles, and 

 when properly fixed in the backs or jams of the fire 

 places, for burning them, and they are properly split 

 and quartered, they afford a brilliant light through the 

 room, without the least offence from smoke. Those 

 knots spring from the heart of the tree, and it is not 



