LABRADOR JOURNAL 343 



the sea-coast, vet I never saw one, in such situa- 

 tions, which was of any value. If, through the 

 carelessness of those who make fires in the woods 

 or by lightning, the old spruce woods are burnt 

 down, Indian-tea is generally the first thing which 

 comes up; currants follow next, and after them, 

 birch. As the plants of birch commonly spring 

 up within three or four feet of each other, they 

 are soon drawn up, and make most excellent 

 hoops; about which time, the spruces and firs will 

 be sprung up among them, to the height of two, 

 three, or four feet, when the Indian-tea and cur- 

 rants will be nearly killed. The birches having 

 now locked their heads so close that the sun can- 

 not penetrate through the foliage and requiring 

 more nourishment than the ground is able to give 

 to each plant, they begin to shew consumptive 

 symptoms, by the under branches dying; and as 

 some few of the stronger ones rob those wliich are 

 weaker, the latter decay altogether, and what re- 

 main grow to pretty stout trees: yet it is almost 

 impossible to find one of them sound, by their not 

 being thinned in proper time, so as to admit the 

 genial rays of the sun, and a free circulation of 

 air, to invigorate and fertilize the earth; and to 

 allow each plant a sufficient portion of land for 

 its support. At length the spruces and firs over-i 

 top, and kill the ])irches; and, when it so ha])pens 

 that th('3' do not stand too thick and the soil suits 

 them, they will arrive at a great size; pariicularly 

 the white-spruce. Wiere there is a ]j(jverty of 

 soil, and they grow close together, they are black, 



