108 On the comparative value 



The stumps of white and spruce pines, (which arc 

 frequently companions,) stand much thicker and much 

 longer on the grounds, than those from deciduous 

 trees ; and the roots from those pines being very nu- 

 merous, spread very superficially, and present a mat- 

 ted mass of obstructions to cultivation, but by no 

 means so formidable as some imagine, for they are 

 soft and more easily cut, or broken by the plough, than 

 those growing from deciduous timber, and suckers 

 never spring from the stumps or the roots of those 

 pines, neither are the grounds which are well covered 

 by them, infested with grubs, brambles, or weeds : for 

 the very close shade they afford, is unfavourable to 

 their growth, of consequence the stumps and roots of 

 the pines, form the principal difficulties to cultivation. 

 But the grounds covered with deciduous timber, also 

 present some considerable obstacles of the same kind, 

 for open wood lands are particularl}^ favourable to the 

 growth of suckers, grubs, brambles and weeds, and 

 grubbing is expensive before cultivation commences, 

 and suckering and weeding require considerable la- 

 bour, which must be performed with attention for 

 some time to come. 



It is allowed by all with whom I have conversed on 

 the subject, that notwithstanding the evergreen tim- 

 ber far exceeds the quantity of the deciduous trees, on 

 any given space of ground, it is much more readily re- 

 moved from, or burnt on the lands, being softer, light- 

 er, and more inflammable. The timber of white pine 

 is, moreover, peculiarly valuable in a new country for 

 buildings, which are erected with it in one half the 

 time required by harder and heavier woods; for be- 



