342 CAPTAIN CARTWRIGHT'S 



no use to mankind, yet, lie no sooner penetrates 

 a few miles into a bay, than the great change, both 

 of the climate and prospects, alter his opinion. 

 The air then becomes soft and warm; bare rocks 

 no longer appear; the land is thick clothed with 

 timber, which reaches down almost to high-water 

 mark, and is generally edged with grass. Few 

 stout trees are to be met with, until you have 

 advanced a considerable distance and have shut 

 the sea out; for the sea air, most certainly has a 

 very pernicious effect upon the growth of timber, 

 as well as on many other things. The best timber, 

 is generally found near the head of the tide, and 

 by the sides of brooks. My business requiring a 

 great deal of all sorts, and a multitude of rinds, 

 it became necessary for me, in all my ranges 

 through the woods, to keep a very sharp look-out 

 for whatever might be of use; which naturally 

 led me to make observations, on the inclination 

 and course of nature, in the propagation and 

 growth of timber. 



Whether it be owing to the climate, or to the 

 soil of this country, I will not take upon me to 

 say, but the fact is, that nature is disposed to 

 clothe the ground with spruces and firs; inter- 

 mixing a few larches,^ birch, and aspens spar- 

 ingly, along the edges of those woods which grow 

 adjoining to the shores of the bays, rivers, brooks, 

 and ponds; where only, they arrive at any degree 

 of perfection. Although abundance of larches 

 will grow upon the sides of the barren hills along 



* Larix laricina. 



