35 
It is all durable wood, being as pood as the oak of the Rhine 
or the Weser when properly worked, according to the opinion of 
our woodcutters, who are judges of timber and are sawyers. 
The nut-wood grows as tall as the oak, but not so heavy. It is 
probable that this kind of wood will be useful for many purposes, 
it grows straight and is tough and hard. We now use it for cogs 
and rounds in our mills and for threshing-flails, swivel-trees and 
other farming purposes, It also is excellent firewood, surpassing 
every other kind, and setting at naught our old adage, ‘ The 
man is yet to come, who can find better wood to burn than oak.’ 
This wood is far better as well for heat as duration. It possesses 
a peculiar sap, which causes it to burn freely, whether green or 
dry. If we draw it up out of the fresh water where it has lain a 
long time, still, on account of its hardness, it is even then uncom- 
monly durable on the fire. We all agree, that no turf, or other 
common fuel is equal to nut-wood. When it is dry, it keeps 
fire and sparkles like matches. Our women prefer nut-coals to 
turf for their stoves, because they last longer, and are not buried 
in ashes. This kind of wood is found all over the New Nether- 
lands in such abundance, that it cannot become scarce in the first 
hundred years with an increased population. There also is oak 
and ash enough to supply its place for many purposes. The land 
also is so natural to produce wood, that in a few years large 
trees will be grown, which I can say with certainty from my own 
observation ; and that unless there be natural changes or great 
improvidence, there can be no scarcity of wood in this country.” 
The “bush burning” of the Indians is described, and the 
injuries done to the woods in consequence. Chestnuts were in 
plenty and would have been more so except for the practice of 
the Indians, who stripped off the bark to fashion covering for 
theirhouses. ‘‘ They and the Netherlanders too were in the habit 
of cutting down the trees in the chestnut season, and cutting off 
the limbs to gather the nuts, which also lessens the trees.” 
The “ water-beeches” (Flatanus occidentalis) are especially 
noticed as growing to great size along the water courses and 
being larger and heavier than any other tree. ‘‘ Canoe-wood ” 
(Liviodendron Tulipifera) grew also very large and was used for 
