Cradle-hills.

Pulling out the stumps.

Ash as manure.

Size of the timber.

Catt/e in the woods.

North American wood ski/ls.

high. The timber lies till the proper season arrives, when fire is applied, and runs over the whole field, burning not only the branches, but the vegetation on the ground, and leaving the whole surface, to appearance, charred. This first fire is not of sufficient intensity to consume the larger branches; these must be cut off, and the trees cut across into logs of about 12 or 15 feet long, which are rolled together, piled up, and again set on fire. When the timber is of great size, oxen are used for dragging the logs together; but their assistance is not in general necessary on this island.

By an expert workman the trees of an acre of land may be cut down and cross-cut in six or eight days: to pile and burn them requires about as much labour. The whole work may be executed for three guineas, or three and a half per acre, at the usual rate of wages in the island.

After the timber is burnt, little more remains to be done: the fire has destroyed the vegetation, which might have been inconvenient, and the surface, having been preserved in a mellow state by the shade of the trees, needs no tillage, further than to cover the seed with a hoe. In some parts of America, the harrow is used; but, in all the northern parts, the surface is too rough, owing to trees that have been blown down by storms, and have torn up the earth along with their roots, so as to form little hillocks, which remain long after the timber is entirely gone to decay.

In the beech and maple lands, the stumps may be pulled out with little difficulty after five or six years; if left a year or two longer, they come out with perfect ease. Where the timber consists of pine, the decay is much more tedious. (pp. 182-3]

The ashes of the burnt timber serve as a powerful manure to the virgin soil of the forest lands for one or two years

The quantity of land which may be annually brought into cultivation from the forest, varies with the dexterity of the workman, as well as the size of the timber. In this island, the timber is seldom so heavy as in the more southern parts of America, where it has often been known that one man has cleared ten acres in the course of a year, besides the other work of his farm. This, however, is a great exertion. in this island six or seven acres are not in general too great a task for an industrious settler though not more expert at the axe, than any active man may become in the course of two or three years practice. A mere novice could not do so much; but any one who does not accomplish two or three acres, must either be a very indifferent hand, or deficient in industry.

The cattle are often left to support themselves in the woods during the early part of winter; In summer, the cattle find abundance of food in the woods sufficient at least for the young stock; but the settlers are too much in the habit of allowing those of all descriptions to take their chance alike. The consequence is, that the produce of the dairy is inconsiderable, and that the full aged cattle are not well fattened. The sheep are more generally kept in inclosed pastures; as they cannot, without danger, be allowed to go into the woods. lp. 1841

But the Americans have a great advantage, in their perfect acquaintance with the woods, and in the dexterity which continual practice has given them in the use of the axe. No comparison can be stated between their case, and that of men, who, from a country where they had scarcely ever seen a tree, were taken at once to a situation, where they could with difficulty find room even to place their huts, till they had cleared away the wood. lp. 185]