174 Natural Ice Houses. 
forest trees, (except the evergreen,*) appeared scorched up 
fully as much as J have seen trees that have been struck 
with lightning in New-England. During the storm I hap- 
pened to be on an island, and observed the wind took up the 
salt water that was extended by the breaking of the waves, 
and seemed rather to elevate the particles of salt water, then 
force them in a horizontal direction, and carried them over 
the land. This I conceived to be the reason of the blast ; 
(for as such it appears,) especially as those trees that stood 
nearest to the salt water, seemed first to decay. The isl- 
ands of this country that are clothed with hard wood, such 
Tcall maple, beach, and birch, are generally surrounded 
on the edges with alders—and those alders that stood on the 
windward side of the islands, shewed the first symptoms of 
decay. I should be glad to have your opinion whether it is 
probable my conjectures are right? that the salt water be- 
ing in such quantities, (for the force of the gale lasted twelve 
hours) lodged upon the branches of the trees, was the occa- 
sion of the blast ? or whether it is more likely that the air 
was impregnated with such glutinous particles as is com- 
monly the case where fields of wheat and other grain are 
said to be mildewed or blasted by unwholesome fogs, when 
in the milk ? and whether itis not probable, had there been 
fields of English grain standing where the trees are blight- 
ed, they would have undergone the same fate 3 espe- 
cially as the potatoe tops, Indian beans, and other tender 
garden plants were affected ; but the cabages and carrots 
are unhurt. The islands of this country and the land near 
the sea shore, are rather low than high land, and consequent- 
ly will, I fear, be subject to further inconvenience of this kind, 
that may prove a discouragement to our cultivating them 
for any other use than the production of grass.” 
Arr. XXI.—Natural Ice Houses.—Epiror. 
Tar ice is perpetual in some climates is notorious. That 
it is so even in those of the torrid zone, upon mountains 
which rise to the height of three miles, is also well known. 
It is however a rare occurrence, even in cold climates, that 
ice is perennial on ground which possesses no more than 
the common elevation. 
* By evergreen, I mean the spruce, fir, and pines. 
