422 Machine for transplanting large Trees, 



the American army, when encamped there in the autumn and 

 winter of the year 1777, and spring of the following year. 

 One of the above writers refers to the relation of Mr. 

 Hearne {Journeij to the Northern Oceaii, p. 452.), for the fact 

 of strawberries growing up wild near Churchill river, and 

 in the interior parts of the country, particularly in such 

 places as have been formerly set on fire ; and for that of hips 

 and raspberry bushes shooting up in great numbers, in burnt 

 places, where nothing of the kind had ever been seen before. 

 Cartwright is also quoted, in proof of the point. He observes, 

 " that if through carelessness the old spruce woods are burnt, 

 or by lightning, Indian tea first comes up, currants follow, 

 and after them birch." {Journal of Trans, at Labrador, vol. iii. 

 p. 225.) Nine years after the publication of this last work, 

 M'Kenzie stated, that " land covered with spruce-pine, and 

 white birch, when laid waste by fire, produced nothing but 

 poplars : " * and yet the Edinburgh reviewer of his work very 

 indelicately declared his disbelief of the relation. Recently, 

 we have additional testimony on this subject. In the manual 

 on the culture of silk, prepared in consequence of a resolution 

 of the House of Representatives of the American Congress, 

 and published in the session of 1828, it is stated (p. 38.) that 

 " in Tennessee, when a native forest is cut. down, if the land 

 be enclosed, a growth of red mulberry trees soon takes place." 

 All these statements do not admit a doubt to be entertained of 

 the natural succession of forest timber ; the fact is moreover 

 familiar to every man who has lived in the country, and to 

 almost every intelligent person in North America. I regret 

 that the enterprising voyager did not live to shame the 

 northern critic for his rudeness, and to enjoy the satisfaction 

 of seeing his own testimony of a curious and interesting fact 

 in natural history confirmed by others. 



J. M. 

 Philadelphia, May 1. 1829. , 



Art. XV. Notice of a Machine for transplanting large Trees, in 

 Use in Thoresby Parh, Nottinghamshire. In a Letter to Mr. 

 Mackay, of the Clapton Nursery, by Mr. Bennet, C. M. H. S., 

 Gardener at Thoresby. Communicated by Mr. Mackay, F.L.S. 

 H.S., &c. 



Dear Sir, 

 I SEND you a sketch of a machine {fg. 89.) for removing 

 trees from 10 to 15 feet high or more, and which I think 



* Voyage from Montreal to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans. London. 1801. 



