320 Notes on certain parts of the State of Ohio. 
mains of pine trees are found scattered all over that part of 
the eountry; and the manufacturers of tar, often find the 
greatest quantities of pine-knots, in situations where at pre- 
sent there is not a living pine tree within two or three miles— 
this is usually on flat land, and amidst forests of oak trees of 
at leasta century’s growth. What could have been the occa- 
sion of this great mortality amongst the pines I do not know ; 
but I once saw, in the western part of the country, a grove of 
one or two acres that had been killed the year before by some 
kind of worm. The trees were completely girdled, by their 
working between the bark of the tree and the wood. 
The wood of the yellow locust, was formerly used, in finish- 
ingthe upper works of vessels—it having almost the du- 
rability, if not the strength, of iron. It is also valuable for 
posts. The wood of yellow poplar, black walnut, and chestnut, 
is much used for shingles ; and until within a few years, when 
white pine has been brought down the Alleghany river, they 
were in general use for covering the roofs of buildings. The 
wood of oak is also used for the same purpose, but generally 
manufactured into what are called long shingles. 
* Besides wood, other fuel, such as coal, turf, peat, and the 
quantity and quality of each.” 
Wood, is the article, principally used in this country for 
fuel. Peat, or turf, is not used at all ; nurdo I know that itis 
to be found in any part of the country in this vicinity. We 
have none of the swamps, or bogs, necessary for its forma- 
tion. Coal is used ina few stores and offices ; but little if 
any is used for family purposes. ‘The greatest consumption 
of itisin manufactories andsmiths’ shops. It is foundin various 
parts of the country, but the bed most wrought is on the 
Muskingum river, eighteen miles above Marietta. Here itis 
found to extend across the river, and as the earth is all washed 
away frem it, when the water is low, the workmen have 
nothing to do but to quarry it from the bed, and throw it 
into their boats. When the water is too high, or too cold to ob- 
tain it from the river, they follow the same bed on the shore, 
and find it at the depth of eight or ten feet from the surface 
of the earth. A large hill puts in near the river, the base of 
which appears to be coal. Should this be properly worked, 
it will no doubt furnish an inexhaustible supply. Its proximi- 
ty toa large navigable stream, adds much to the value of the 
mine. The coal which is obtained from the bed of the river 
