TREES. 323 



That tract of land near the head of Hummock Pond 

 which we now call " the woods " — now entirely des- 

 titute of trees — was previous to the year 1700 called 

 " the long woods." This is very positive evidence that 

 there were large tracts of trees upon the island in those 

 early days; for the people of that time generally called 

 things by their right names. Nearly all the early deeds 

 on record speak of timber and wood for fuel as being 

 granted to purchasers of land here. W.C. Folger says: 

 " Notwithstanding all the testimony, a man of foreign 

 birth stated in a meeting of the Farmers' Institute of 

 last season that native trees never grew here." 



Mr. Mcintosh, in his article on agriculture, believes 

 that attention should be paid to the cultivation of trees. 

 There are certainly many varieties that could be grown 

 to advantage and profit, both for fruit and timber. 

 The compiler believes that the Australian blue gum 

 (Eucalyptus globulus) would thrive here; it is certainly 

 worth the trial. This tree has done finely in many parts 

 of the country, especially in California. If the experi- 

 ment were made here with the tree, it would of course 

 want shelter for a few years; and why not plant some 

 of the seed in Dead Horse Valley, or among the Pines? 

 If planted at these places they would get a good shelter 

 for at least ten years ; and if they were adapted to our 

 soil and climate, they could certainly by that time take 

 care of themselves. In locations suited for it, the Aus- 

 tralian blue gum has been known to attain a height of 

 one hundred feet in twenty years. Its timber is un- 

 equalled, and for fuel it cannot be surpassed; its leaves 

 are esteemed highly as a febrifuge, and their proper- 

 ties are said to be superior to quinine. It certainly 



