PRIMITIVE TREATMENT OF FORESTS. 43 
somewhat modified form, adapting it to the circumstances 
of the case, to clear lands of forests, that it may be used 
for agriculture. 
In a work entitled “ Historical and Descriptive 
Sketches of the Maritime Colonies, of British America,” 
by John M‘Gregor, published in 1828, in a sketch of the 
progress of anew settled leeation upon uncleared: forest 
land, we are told ‘the first, objeet:is to cut down the trees, 
which is done by cutting, with an axe, a notch into each , 
side of the tree, about 2 feet above the ground, and rather 
more than half through on: the side it is intended the tree 
should fall. The lower sides of these notches are hori- 
zontal, the, upper make angles: of about 60°. The trees 
are all felled in the same direction, and after. lopping off 
the principal branches, cut into 12 feet or 15 feet length; . 
the whole is left in this state until the proper season for 
burning arrives, generally in May, when it is set on fire, 
which consumes all the branches. and small wood. The 
larger lops are then either piled in heaps and burned, or 
rolled away to make fencing stuff’? There follows an 
account of the agricultural operations which succeed, but 
it. is. the destruction: of the forest, as a preparation for 
these, with which alone we are concerned; here. 
Sometimes there is combined with such operations as 
have been detailed, the preparation of potash from, the 
residuura of the wood consumed. 
The, making of salts.is toilsome and. laborious, but. is 
considered profitable, especially where it is carried on in 
conjunction with, clearing. 
The extent of land which has been denuded of forest. 
by: such clearings is immense. 
