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On Succession oj Timber^ by R» Peter Sy President of the 

 Agricultural Society. 



Read April 12, 1814. 



Belmont, March 22c/, 1814. 



Dear Sir, 



I had considered the subject of changes of timber, 

 on spots which had been deprived of precedent growths, 

 either by artificial or natural means, to be at rest. I 

 conceived that, although publishing the facts related 

 in our first volume, had excited the curiosity of some, 

 and the incredulity of others ; yet the circumstance 

 was generally acknowledged by every one who had 

 given themselves the trouble to attend to it. I was 

 surprised, however last year, by its having been as- 

 serted, that the country in which our valley forge en- 

 campment was situated,^ during the revolution- war, 

 would incontestibly refute my doctrine. I had wit- 

 nessed, at the time, the havock and vast scene of de- 

 struction among the timber there. Knowing the ex- 

 tent and variety of the desolation, my curiosity was 

 excited to gain information of. the renewal, or succes- 

 sion of the timber. I accordingly wrote to Isaac 

 Wayne, Esq. the worthy son of my old friend, the late 

 General TVayne. It seems that his letter, containing 

 the information I wished, most unfortunately miscar- 

 ried. He has, however, been so obliging as to send 

 the enclosed account of facts, from his recollection. It 

 suiRciently proves every thing required. So far from 

 justifying the suggestion I have before mentioned, it 



