322 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



the wood with an unsparing hand; for it seems that 

 but little more than a century from the settlement of 

 the island the inhabitants were obliged to get fuel from 

 Coskata (1779-80). In a petition to Sir Henry Clinton, 

 dated July 9, 1780, they represent themselves as being 

 " wholly destitute of firewood." The town has ever 

 since depended upon Cape Cod for its supply of wood. 

 In 1847, Josiah Sturgess planted the first pines with- 

 out the town. Others followed his example, and 

 strong hopes were entertained that at some future 

 day Nantucket would not be obliged to import fire- 

 wood. But these pine-trees have not flourished as 

 well as was expected. Whether the variety planted is 

 not adapted to the soil, whether the air is too salt, 

 whether some parasite or some unknown disease has 

 attacked them, has not been determined; certain it is, 

 they do not thrive. In the town, however, the trees 

 which were set out a few years after the " great fire " 

 have shown a wonderful degree of growth, considering 

 that they are elms, which trees are known to be of very 

 slow growth. On Main, Centre, Federal, and many 

 other streets, Nantucket can show — considering their 

 age — as fine a lot of trees as any town of its size in 

 the country. The great gale of a few years since tore 

 up a number of them ; but if properly cared for and 

 more are judiciously added to those that are left, year 

 by year, our streets can in time rival those of Old 

 Cambridge or the " Elm City " itself. 



Probably the oldest and largest tree on the island is 

 a sycamore which stands on the corner of Main Street 

 and Ray's Court, and it is a beautiful sight in the 

 summer, 



