C 3 10 ] 
until it grew as red as it could be, when I took it 
out of the Crucible. I obferved feveral Veins (not 
difcernible before) of a ferrugineous Matter, about 
t - 6 of an Inch thick, and when reduced to Powder, 
it applied ftrongly to the Magnet. 
In other Stones I found lome Veins of Wood, 
about one and two Inches thick, no way petrified, 
tho’ the Stones were every way fo outwardly. 
Some of that woody Part I alfo burnt in a Crucible ; 
it emitted a bluifh Flame, as if impregnated with Sul- 
phur, and had the ftrong Smell of burning Charcoal. 
When burnt to a Coal, and reduced into Powder, 
it faintly yielded to the Magnet. 
How Wood happens to be found in thefe Petri- 
fications, found and untouch'd, is fomewhat Fur- 
prifing, and to account for it not very eafy. It may 
be attributed to this, that the Texture of the Wood 
is not every-where equal; efpecially where Knots 
happen, that Part is much harder and clofer than 
any other; and if the petrefeent Particles ftiould be 
once flopped, they will fix there, coagulate, and go 
no further; by which means that Part of the Wood 
wiil remain free from Petrification, while the reft 
will be turned into Stone ; or the Pores of the Wood 
may happen in fome Places, and in the very Heart 
of it, to be fo full of a refinous Matter, that it will 
keep out the petrific Juices, and hinder their further 
penetrating into them equally : To this may be at- 
tributed the ftrong Smell of this Wood when burn- 
ins; and the more fo, as I fufpeft that moft of this 
pcrrificd Wood was Fir, there being a good deal of 
that kind found daily in Turf Pits near the Lake; 
fome not above twenty Yards Diflancc from it ; and 
the lall Piece of Wood and Stone continuous that I 
have 
