Sometimes the forests are injudiciously set on fire by the settlers, to save the labour of cutting and partially burning; but by such indiscriminate conflagration the land is not properly cleared, and a very strong and noxious plant, called the fire-weed, instantly springs up, exhausting all the fertility of the ground. Sometimes these conflagrations extend over the whole face of a country, producing the most fearful destruction of life and property. The spectacle of a burning forest, according to the accounts of those who have witnessed it, is most sublime. The flames leap from tree to tree, and rushing up to their tops, throw out immense volumes of fire from the thick clouds of smoke that hang over the burning mass, while the falling trees come down with the most tremendous crash. One of the most destructive of these fires took place a few years ago in New Brunswick. We extract an account of this calamity from Mr. M'Gregor's work : : "In October 1825, upwards of a hundred miles of the country, on the north side of Miramichi river, became a scene of the most dreadful conflagration that has perhaps ever occurred in the history of the world. In Europe, we can scarcely form a conception of the fury and rapidity with which the fires rage through the American forests during a dry, hot season; at which time the underwood, decayed vegetable substances, fallen branches, bark, and withered trees are as inflammable as a total absence of moisture can render them. When these tremendous fires are once in motion, or at least when the flames extend over a few miles of the forest, the surrounding air becomes highly rarefied, and the wind naturally increases to a hurricane. It appears that the woods had been, on both sides of the north-west branch, partially on fire for some time, but not to an alarming extent, until the 7th of October, when it came on to blow furiously from the north-west, and the inhabitants on the banks of the river were suddenly alarmed by a tremendous roaring in the woods, resembling the incessant rolling of thunder; while, at the same time, the atmosphere became thickly darkened with smoke. They had scarcely time to ascertain the cause of this phenomenon, before all the surrounding woods appeared in one vast blaze, the flames ascending more than a hundred feet above the tops of the loftiest trees, and the fire, like a gulph in flames, rolling forward with inconceivable celerity. In less than an hour, Douglastown and Newcastle were enveloped in one vast blaze, and many of the wretched inhabitants, unable to escape, perished in the midst of this terrible fire." A Miramichi paper, published on the 11th of October, at the scene of this fearful conflagration, contains some interesting particulars, from which it appears that several hundred lives were lost in Newcastle, Douglastown, and Fredericton; that nearly all the lumberers' in the woods perished; that in many parts of the country the cattle were all destroyed; and that the loss of property in the towns was immense, as the fire rushed upon the inhabitants with such inconceivable rapidity, that the preservation of their lives could be their only care. Two new species of pine, of more gigantic dimensions than any that have hitherto been described in Europe or America, have been found by Mr. David Douglas, a most enterprising botanist, who was sent out by the Horticultural Society of London in 1825, to explore the west coast of North America. He returned from that country in the autumn of 1827, bringing with him a rich addition to the known catalogue of plants. These pines are: 1. Pinus Douglasii.-This pine grows to the height of two hundred and thirty feet, and is upwards of fifty feet in circumference at the base. It has a rough corky bark, from an inch to twelve inches thick. The leaves resemble those of the spruce, and the cones are small. The timber is of good quality, and very heavy. This pine was found by Mr. Douglas on the banks of the Columbia, where it forms immense forests, extending from the shores of the Pacific to the Stoney Mountains. 2. Pinus Lambertiana*.-This species of pine was discovered in Northern California, where it is dispersed over large tracts of country, but does not form dense forests like most of the other pines. It is a very majestic tree; and one specimen which, in consequence of its having been blown down, Mr. Douglas was enabled to measure, was two hundred and fifteen feet in length, fifty-seven feet nine inches in circumference at three feet from the root, and seventeen feet five inches at one hundred and thirty-four feet. It is probably the largest single mass of timber that ever was measured by man, though some of the growing specimens of the same pine were evidently of greater elevation. The trunk of the Lambertiana is straight, and clear of branches for about twothirds of the height. The bark is uncommonly smooth, and the whole tree has a most graceful appearance. The cones resemble those of the Weymouth pine, but are much larger, being on an average at least sixteen inches in length. The seeds are eaten roasted, or pounded into cakes. The tree bears a considerable resemblance to the spruces; and, as is the case with them, its turpentine is of a pure amber colour, and the timber soft, white, and light. One singular property of this tree is, that *The name of this pine was given to it as a tribute to Lambert, the author of a most splendid work on the genus Pinus. when the timber is partly burned, the turpentine loses its peculiar flavour, and acquires a sweetish taste. It is used by the natives as a substitute for sugar. TIMBER TREES ALLIED TO THE PINES, IN THEIR APPEARANCE OR THEIR USES. The principal of these are the Yew, the Cypress, the Juniper, and the Arbor vita; these, like the pines, all belong to the natural order of Coniferæ, or cone-bearing trees; and they have the common characters of being mostly evergreens, and the wood being resinous or bitter: but there are some distinctions- the pine, the cypress, the juniper, and the arbor vitæ, are monacious or one-housed-that is, have the male and female flower on the same plant; while the juniper and the yew are diacious or twohoused-have the male flowers on one tree and the females on another. The YEW is a tree of no little celebrity, both in the military and the superstitious history of England. The common yew is a native of Europe, of North America, and of the Japanese Isles. It used to be very plentiful in England and Ireland, and probably also in Scotland. Cæsar mentions it as having been abundant in Gaul; and much of it is found in Ireland, imbedded in the earth. The trunk and branches grow very straight; the bark is cast annually; and the wood is compact, hard, and very elastic. It is, therefore, of great use in every branch of the arts in which firm and durable timber is required; and, before the general use of fire-arms, it was in high request for bows: so much of it was required for the latter purpose, that ships trading to Venice were obliged to bring ten bow staves along with every butt of Malmsey. The yew was also consecrated-a large tree, or more, being in every churchyard; and they were held sacred. In funeral processions the branches were carried over the dead by mourners, and thrown under the coffin in the grave. The following extract from the ancient laws of Wales will show the value that was there set upon these trees, and also how the consecrated yew of the priests had risen in value over the reputed sacred misletoe of the Druids : "A consecrated yew, its value is a pound. "Principal branch of an oak, thirty pence. "A yew-tree (not consecrated), fifteen pence. "A sweet apple, threescore pence. "A sour apple, thirty pence. "A thorn-tree, seven pence halfpenny. Every tree after that, fourpence." By a statute made in the 5th year of Edward IV., every Englishman, and Irishman dwelling with Englishmen, was directed to have a bow of his own height made of yew, wych-hazel, ash, or awburne—that is, laburnum, which is still styled "awburne saugh," or awburne willow, in many parts of Scotland. His skill in the use of the long bow was the proud |