FOREST TREES. 89

of these lands from the crown, a consideration from others for the right of possession.

There are three or four varieties of poplar, which delight, as in Europe, to grow in low soils. A dwarfish kind abounds where the original wood has been destroyed.

The white walnut, or hickory, (juglans alba,) generally called butternut-tree in America, is com— mon on intervale or alluvial land, and grows to a considerable size. The nut is edible, and contains about the same proportion of oil as the common walnut.

Besides these trees, which, on account of their appearance or usefulness, are the most generally known, many other varieties abound, among which it will be sufficient to name the alder, wild cherry, Indian pear—tree, dog—wood, horn-beam, or iron-wood, and white and black thorn. The very great variety of smaller trees, shrubs, and herbs which abound in North America, must be left for the professed natu— ralist to class.

Sarsaparilla, ginseng, as well as many othermedi- cinal plants, are very plentiful, the virtues of which are as yet but imperfectly known. The Indians have vegetable specifics for all the diseases, except those introduced by Europeans, to which they are liable.*

"‘ The nuns and catholic clergy prepare a vegetable plaster, r; which never fails to cure inveterate cancer. The secret they will 3; ' not divulge. The author is acquainted with several persons who i have been perfectly cured by them, after being considered past;

recovery by very able physicians.