(ITSI) 
An ExtraB of a LctUr] 
Written h] John Winthrop Elq-, Governourof Comt&xaitm 
New England, Publtfbcr^cmcrningfome Natural Curio- 
fttics of thofe farts ^ efpedally a very (Iran^e and very cur mf- 
ly contrived Fijh , fent forth Repfitoryof the Society. 
I Know not , whether I may recomraend feme of the produ- 
(Sionsof this Wildernefs as rarities or novelties 3 but they 
2re fueh as the place affords. There are^ amongft the reft, 2. or 
3. fmal Oaks, which though fo (lender and low(asyou may 
fee, if they come fafe) have yet Acorns and cups upon them , 
fo that it may be truly faid^that there is a Country ^where Hoggs 
are fo tall that they eat acorns upon the ftaoding growing 
Oakes- This is every year vifible in many parts here , there be- 
ing of this fort of dwarf-Oak whole Forrefts in the Inland Goun^ 
try-, too many for the Husband-man, who finds that fort of 
land moft difficult to break up atitrft with his plough , in regard 
* that the whole furface is fiird with fpreading ftrong roots of 
this fort of Oak. Neither muft it be thought, that they are 
fmalllhoots, which in time would grow big trees 5 for^, where 
thefc groWjthere are no great Oaks, or very few amongft them^ 
But whether it be a novelty to feefuch kind of dwarf- trees bea- 
ring acorns^I know not : It was to me, having not feen the like 
( as far as I remember , ) in England or Frame , or other parts. 
Mean time I have obferved , that in fome Plains , full of thefe 
Ihrubs , there have been no acorns on moft of them 5 but whe- 
ther in other years they were not fruitful ,1 know not.Some years^, 
we know, even the great Oaks bear no fiuit, which are very full 
at other timesV but this year t hroughout the whole Country 
there is plenty of acorns 5 andllhould be glad to be informed 5, 
whether thisyear they have been alfo abounding in H^^/Wj or 
other parts of Europe 5 and if fo , or notfo ^ poffibly fomething: 
not altogether inconfidcrable may be thence inferr'd.Befides ^ if 
fiich dwarfifli Oakes , as thefe , fliould be found in other parts o£ 
the World, it were not amifs, me thinks.^ to inquire^ Whether 
it be not fome Mkiera! ground ^ where thefe grow ^ andiffo^. 
what k>xu of Minerals' thofe places afford f 
Thgre ars ^Ufo ftiK you fome giecesofrheBarfiof aTtee^, 
■ ' ^ "' ~' ' " ~ whicte. 
