58 GEOLOGICAL AGE AND FORMATION. 



in wet ground, and in favorable situations forms dense 

 swamps. It is most commonly found on the head-waters 

 of streams, and several of those in this county rise in such 

 swamps. West Creek, East Creek, Dennis Creek, Great 

 Cedar Swamp Creek, and many of their small branches, 

 have cedar swamps through their whole lengths. There 

 is 'no cedar on the streams south of those mentioned, ex- 

 cept in a few spots of limited extent, where it has been 

 planted. The area of these swamps has not been estimatedj 

 but there must be some thousands of acres. The largest 

 is that which lies in the valleys of Dennis and Great. Cedar 

 Swamp creeks, and is continuous from the upper bridge on 

 the former creek, to Dennisville on the latter. The timber 

 which originally covered these swamps has now all been 

 cut off, and there is no first growth to be found. Very few 

 trees are known which are more than one hundred years 

 old, and most of the swamps are now cut off when the tim- 

 ber is of about sixty years growth. Formerly, trees of 

 great age were found. Mr. Charles Ludlam counted 700 

 rings of annual growth in a tree which was alive when cut 

 down. Dr, Beesley counted 1080 in a stump; and Hon. J. 

 Diverty found 1000 in a log dug up out of the swamp 

 earth. The trees stand very thick upon the ground, and 

 the first part of their growth is very rapid, but as they get 

 larger they are more crowded, and their tops remain small. 

 The annual growth is here very little; the rings near the 

 heart of the tree are frequently an eighth of an inch thick, 

 while in those near the bark of a large tree they are as thin 

 IS paper. The average size of the old trees was from two 

 to three feet in diameter; those of four, five, and six, and 



