USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 3 > Part 6
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Wild Cherry. Of this we have many fpecies ; but they have not been well arranged, and properly diftinguifhed. They are very numerous in land which has been newly cleared, if not kept down by culture. The wood of the largeft cherry-tree ( prunus virginiana ) is very highly efteemed in cabi- net work, being of a firm texture, a fmooth grain, and a beautiful colour, between red and yellow.
Baffwood or Lime-tree (tilia americana) is fome- times fawed into boards, which are very white, but foft, and cafily warped.
Locuft (robinia pfeudo-acacia) is excellent fuel. Its trunk ferves for durable pofts fet in the ground, and may be fplit into trunnels for fhips, which are equal to any wood for that purpofe. It thrives on fandy and gravelly foils, and its leaves enrich them. For thefe reafons, the cultivation of the locuft has been thought an object worthy of attention, efpecially as it is a tree of quick growth. For feveral years paft it has been injured by a beetle-infect, which bores a hole through its trunk. Many trees have been entirely killed, and this circumftance has proved a difcouragement to their propagation.
Birch. Of this we have four fpecies. 1. White (betula alba.) The bark of this tree is a fubftance of a fingular kind, and is perhaps the only bark which is lefs liable to rot than the wood which it enclofes. The whole interior fubftance of a fallen tree, is fre- quently found rotten, whilft the bark remains found. This bark is compofed of feveral lamina, eafily fepa- rable, of a firm confiftence, thin, flexible, foft and
75
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
fmooth. It may be written upon, like paper. It is very inflammable, emitting a vivid flame and a very denfe, black fmoke, which might eafily be col- lected like lampblack. Of this bark the Indians formed difhes, boxes, and light portable canoes, which they fewed together with flender but tough filaments of the roots of fpruce and cedar, cement- ing the joints with turpentine. 2. Black (betula ni- gra.) The heart of this tree is of a beautiful brown, and is frequently fplit and turned. It makes handfome bedfteads, chairs and tables. Much of it is exported to Europe. 3. Red or Yellow (betula lenta.) This is chiefly ufed for fewel, and is much efteemed. 4. Alder (letule alnus.) Its bark is much employed in dying a dark brown. The wood, when of a proper fize, makes excellent charcoal. It is common in fwamps and by the fide of rivers and brooks.
Oak. Of this we have four fpecies in New- Hampfhire. 1. Black, (quercus nigra.) The inner bark is ufed for tanning. The timber for the keels of fhips. 2. Red, (quercus rubra.) Of this fpecies there are three varieties. (1.) The red, which grows fometimes on high and dry land, but delights in a moift foil, and is generally found on the de- clivities of hills and borders of fwamps. The wood of this tree is eafily riven, and makes excellent ftaves for molaffes and for dry cafks. (2.) The Swamp oak, which is found in low wet places. It is poffeffed of greater elafticity than any other oak. Splints of this wood have been fubftituted for whalebone. (3.)
Yellow, which grows on hills and dry ridges of land, makes the beft of pipe flaves and fhip-timber .* 3. White. (quercus alba.) 4. Shrub oak. (quercus pu- mila.) It is found on barren hills and plains. It
* This arrangement of the oaks is suggested by Dr. Cutler. In common parlance, the oak, which is used for pipe-staves and ship timber, is called the upland white oak ; it is one of the most useful and valuable trees of the American forest.
att.
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HISTORY OF
produces a gall, which is evidently the nidus of an infect, and has been ufed an ingredient in writing ink. 'There is another oak, called the chefnut or new-found oak ; but whether it be of a different fpecies, or a variety of either fpecies above-mention- ed, has not been determined.
Walnut. The American fpecies of this genus, have been confounded by botanical writers. There are at leaft three in New-Hampfhire. 1. White or round nut Hickory. ( juglans alba.) Its fap is fweet, but does not flow freely. Its wood is fmooth and tough, and is much ufed for gun-ftocks, axe- handles and walking-fticks. 2. Shag-bark ( juglans cineria ?* The wood of this tree is not fo valuable as the white ; but the fruit is preferable, being larger, and having a fofter fhell. 3. Oil-nut or Butter-nut. This fpecies has been called, by fome authors, juglans alba, and by others, juglans nigra. It differs fpecifically from both, and therefore Dr. Cutler has given it the dif- tinguifhing name of juglans cathartica, expreffive of the peculiar property of its bark, the extract of which is one of the beft cathartics in the materia medica. It neither produces gripings, nor leaves the patient coftive, and may be made efficacious, with- out hazard, by increafing the dofe. Its operation is kind and fafe, even in the moft delicate conftitutions. It is an excellent family medicine, is well adapted to hofpitals, navies and armies. It was much ufed by the military phyficians, in the late war ; and it may become a valuable article of exportation. It is faid to be one of the beft antidotes againft the bite of the rattle-fnakc. The fruit of this tree, when gathered young, in the beginning of July, makes an excellent pickle. When ripe, it is a fattening food
* ' I am uncertain whether this be the cineria of authors. and therefore have added the ' mark of interrogation. If it be not tho cineria (to which the characters pretty well Dr. Catler.
" agree) it has no specific name.'
-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
for fwine. Its fhell is black, hard and rough. Its kernel contains a large quantity of a rich fweet oil .* Its wood makes good fencing ftuff; and its bark, befides the medicinal virtues which it poffeffes, has a quality of dying feveral fhades of grey and black.
Chefnut, (fagus caftanea) is chiefly ufed for fencing ; it is ftraight, coarfe grained, eafily riven and very durable. It is fometimes fplit into ftaves and heading for dry cafks.
Beech, ( fagus fylvatica.) Of this there are three -- varieties. The white and the red are ufed as fewel. The black is finall and tough, and is ufed only for withes and fwitches.
Hornbeam (carpinus betulus) is a fmall but tough tree, and is ufed only for levers, hand fpikes and ftakes.
Button-wood ( platanus occidentalis) is a large tree, but as tough as the hornbeam. It is ufed for wind- laffes, wheels and blocks.
Pine. ( pinus) Of this genus we have at leaft feven fpecies. 1. The White Pine ( pinus ftrobus) is un- doubtedly the prince of the American foreft in fize, age and majefty of appearance. More of this fpe- cies have been produced in New-Hampfhire, and the eaftern counties of Maffachufetts than in all Ameri- ca befides. Thefe trees have a very thin fap, and are diftinguifhed by the name of maft-pine from the fucceeding growth of the fame fpecies, which are called faplings. The bloffom of this and other pines appears about the middle of June, its farina is of a bright yellow, and fo fubtil that it is exhaled with vapor from the earth, afcends into the clouds
* In the southern and western parts of the United States, this tree is found in very great abundance. The Indians preserved the oil which they extracted from the nut. Of this we have an early testimony in the journal of Ferdinando de Soto, A. D. 1540. When he came to Chiaha, situate near the Apalachian mountains, about the latitude of 349, le . found great store of oil of walnuts, clear as butter, and of good taste.' (Purchas, vol. 5. page 1539.) The Indians of New-England extracted an oil from acoins, by boib ¿ng them in water with ashes of punk, or the rotten heart of maple.
Josselyn's Voyage:
$78
HISTORY OF
and falls with rain, forming a yellow fcum on the furface of the water, which the ignorant erroneouf- ly call fulphur from the fimilarity of its colour.
When a maft tree is to be felled, much prepara- tion is neceffary. So tall a flick without any limbs nearer the ground than eighty or a hundred feet, is in great danger of breaking in the fall. To prevent this, the workmen have a contrivance which they call bedding the tree, which is thus executed. They know in what direction the tree will fall ; and they cut down a number of finaller trees which grow in that direction ; or if there be none, they draw oth- ers to the fpot, and place them fo that the falling tree may lodge on their branches ; which breaking or yielding under its preffure, render its fall cafy and fafe. A time of deep fnow is the moft favora- ble feafon, as the rocks are then covered, and a nat- ural bed is formed to receive the tree. When fallen, it is examined, and if to appearance it be found, it is cut in the proportion of three feet in length to every inch of its diameter, for a maft ; but if intend- ed for a bow-fpirit or a yard, it is cut fhorter. If it be not found throughout, or if it break in falling, it is cut into logs for the faw mill.
When a maft is to be drawn, as its length will not admit of its paffing in a crooked road, a ftraight path is cut and cleared for it through the woods. If it be cut in the neighborhood of a large river, it is drawn to the bank and rolled into the water, or in the winter it is laid on the ice to be floated away at the breaking up of the river in the fpring. From other fituations mafts are now conveyed twenty, thirty or forty miles to the landing places at the head of the tide, and as the diftance has increafed, more fafe and eafy modes of conveyance have been invent- ed. Formerly, if drawn on wheels, the maft was raifed by levers, and hung by chains under the axle.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
In this cafe it was neceffary to ufe very ftrong and heavy chains, and wheels of fixteen or eighteen feet in diameter, that the maft, in paffing might be clear- ed from the ground, which was often encumbered with rocks and ftumps. Now, the common wheels and chains are ufed, and the largeft ftick, by a very eafy operation, is raifed on the axle. To perform this, the wheels being brought near to it, are cant- ed; the axle being fet in a perpendicular pofition, one wheel on the ground and the other aloft. The maft is then rolled over the rim and fpokes of the lower wheel, and faftened to the axle ; and when it is thus fixed, a chain, which is previoufly made faft to the oppofite fide of the upper wheel, is hooked to a yoke of oxen ; who, by a jerk, bring down the up- per and raife the lower wheel, and thus both are brought into their proper pofition, with the maft mounted on the axle. They ufe two pair of wheels, one at each end of the maft ; by which means, it is not galled by friction on the ground; and the draught is rendered much eafier for the cattle.
When a maft is to be drawn on the fnow, one end is placed on a fled, fhorter, but higher than the com- mon fort, and refts on a ftrong block, which is laid acrofs the middle of the fled. Formerly, the butt end was placed foremoft, and faftened by chains to the bars of the fled, which was attended by this in- convenience ; that in fidelong ground, the ftick by its rolling would overfet the fled, and the drivers had much difficulty either to prevent or remedy this difafter, by the help of levers and ropes. The in- vention of the fwivel chain precludes this difficulty. One part of this chain is faltened to the tongue of the fled, and the other to the finalleft end of the maft, by means of a circular groove cut in it ; one of the intermediate links is a fwivel, which, by its eafy turning, allows the ftick to roll from fide to fide,
1
W
80
HISTORY OF
without overturning the fled. In defcending a long and fteep hill, they have a contrivance to prevent the load from making too rapid a defcent. Some of the cattle are placed behind it ; a chain which is at- tached to their yokes is brought forward and faften- ed to the hinder end of the load, and the refiftance which is made by thefe cattle, checks the defcent. This operation is called tailing. The moft dangerous circumftance, is the paffing over the top of a fharp hill, by which means, the oxen which are neareft to the tongues are fometimes fufpended, till the fore- moft cattle can draw the maft fo far over the hill, as to give them opportunity to recover the ground. In this cafe the drivers are obliged to ufe much judgment and care, to keep the cattle from being killed. There is no other way to prevent this in- convenience than to level the roads.
The beft white pine trees are fold for mafts, bow- fprits and yards, for large fhips .* Thofe of an infe- rior fize, partly unfound, crooked, or broken in falling, are either fawn into planks and boards, or
* Douglas [vol. II. page 53.] speaks of a white pine, cut near Dunstable, in 1786, which was ' straight and sound, seven feet eight inches in diameter, at the butt end.' He also says, that when ' Col. Partridge' (formerly Lieutenant Governor of New-Hamp- shire) "had the mast contract, he sent home a few of 38 inches, and two of 42 inches.'
I have obtained from the books of the late contractor, Mark Hunking Wentworth, Esq. deceased, the following account of the size and value of such sticks as he sent to England for the use of the navy.
Masts.
Bowsprits.
Diameter in inches.
Sterling value.
Yards Diameter in inches.
-
Sterling value.
-
Diameter i in inches.
Sterling value.
L
T
L
1
25
13, 8
15
25
2,10
26
16,
16
26
3,
27
18,
17
6,10
27
3,14
28
23,
18
9
28
8, 2
29
28,
19
11,4
29
15,
80
35,10
20
14,10
30
21,
31
44,
21
18,10
31
26,
82
56,
22
21,
32
29,
33
70,
23
25,10
33
32,
34
90,
24
32,
31
40,
35
42,10
36
45,
37
52,10
N. E. It must be observed, that all these were hewn into the proper chape before the. final dimensions were taken, which determined their value.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
formed into canoes, or cut into bolts for the ufe of coopers, or fplit and fhaved into clapboards and thingles. Boards of this wood are much ufed fo wainfcoting and cabinet work ; it is of fmooth grain, and when free from knots, does no injury to the tools of the workmen ; but the foftnefs of its tex- ture fubjects it to Ihrink and fwell with the weath- er. The fapling pine, though of the fame fpecies, is not fo firm and finooth as the veteran pine of the foreit, and is more fenfibly affected by the weather.
The ftamps and roots of the maft pine are very durable. It is a common faying, that 'no man ever 'cut down a pine, and lived to fee the ftump rotten.' After many years, when the roots have been loofen- ed by the froft, they are, with much labor, cut and dug out of the ground, and being turned up edge way, are fet for fences to fields ; in which flate they have been known to remain found for half a cen- tury. A collection of thefe roots would make an impenetrable abbatis, which nothing but fire could. cafily deftroy.
Before the revolution, all white pines (excepting thofe growing in any townfhip granted before the twenty-firit of September, 1722) were accounted the King's property, and heavy penalties were an- nexed to the cutting of them, without leave from the King's furveyor. Since that event, thefe trees, like all others, are the property of the landholder.
(2.) The Yellow pine (pinus pinea) is harder and heavier than the white, but never grows to the fame fize ; its planks and boards are ufed for the floors of houfes and the decks of fhips.
(3.) The Pitch pine (pinus teda) is the hardeft and heavieft of all the pines ; it is fometimes put to the fame ufes as the yellow pine ; but at prefent the principal ufe of it is for fewel. When burnt in kilns, it makes the beft kind of charcoal ; its knots
I.
82
HISTORY OF
and roots being full of the terebinthine oil, afford a light furpaffing candles; its foot is collected, and ufed for lamp black. The making of tar from it is now wholly difufed. Formerly, when it was made, the method was this. A piece of clay ground was chof- en ; or if it could not conveniently be had, the earth was paved with ftone or brick, in a circular form, about twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, raifed in the middle, and a circular trench was drawn round it, a few inches in depth. The wood being cut and fplit, was fet upright in a conical pile, and covered on every fide with fods, a hole being left open at the top, where the pile was fet on fire. The confined heat melted the refinous juices of the wood, which flow- ed out at the bottom into the circular trench, and was conducted by other gutters, to holes in the earth, in which were fet barrels to receive it. Tur- pentine is collected from every fpecies of the pine, by boxing the trees ; that from the white pine is the pureft ; it fometimes diftils from the tree in beauti- fully tranfparent drops.
4. The Larch ( pinus larix) is the only tree of the terebinthine quality which fheds its leaves in au- tumn. Its turpentine is faid to be the fame with the Burgundy pitch.
(5.). The Fir ( pinus balfamea) yields a fine balfam, which is contained in fmall blifters on the exterior furface of its bark. This balfam is ufed both as an external and internal medicine. The wood is coarf- er, and more brittle, than the pine, and is feldom ei- ther hewn or fawn.
(6.) Of Spruce (pinus canadenfis) we have two varieties, the white and the black. The white Spruce is tall and flender, its grain is twifting, and when ftripped of its bark, it will crack in a warm fun. It is the worft wood for fewel, because of its continual fnapping ; in this refpect it exceeds hem-
89
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
lock and chefnut ; both of which are remarkable for the fame ill quality. It is fometimes formed into oars for large boats, but is inferior to afh. It is often ufed for fpars, for fencing ftuff and for fcaffolding, for all which purpofes, its form and texture render it very convenient, as it is ftraight and tough, and may be had of any fize from two inches to two feet in diameter. The black fpruce is ufed only for beer. The young twigs of it are boiled till the bark may eafily be ftripped from the wood, and being fweeten- ed with molaffes, make one of the moft pleafant and wholefome beverages which nature affords. Of this fpruce is made the effence, which is as well known in Europe as in America.
(7.) The Hemlock (pinus abies ) is, in ftature, the next tree to the maft pine. It grows largeft in fwampy land, and is very ftraight. Its grain is coarfe, and is not eafily fplit or hewn, but is fawed into planks, joifts, and laths. Its chief excellence in building is, that it holds a nail exceedingly well. It makes good flooring for bridges and barns, and the round timber is very durable in wharfs and dams. The bark is excellent for tanning leather. The balfam of the hemlock is ufed medicinally, but it cannot be collected in any great quantities.
White cedar (thuja occidentalis.)
Red cedar (juniperus virginiana.)
' The white cedar of the fouthern States (cuprefus ' thyoides) is a very different tree from the white ce- 'dar of the northern States ; but the red cedar is ' the fame in all the States. It is a juniper, and a ' fpecies of that in Europe which produces the juni- ' per berries. The wood of the red cedar, is more ' durable, when fet in the earth, than any other 'wood growing in this country.'
' We have another fpecies of juniper (juniperus fa- ' bina) which does not rife more than eighteen inches 'from the ground ; but the branches extend hori-
844
HISTORY OF
' zontally feveral yards ; and form, in open paftures, 'an extenfive bed of evergreen. The leaves are 'mixed with oats, and given to horfes to deftroy ' the worms, which infefl their bowels.'
White willow (Jalix alba) is originally an exotic, but now well naturalized and much propagared. ' The bark of this tree is ufed as a fubflitute for the ' cortex peruviana.'
Swamp willow (falix) is the firft tree that fhows its bloffoms in the fpring. In fome feafons, its white 4 'owers cxhibit a delightful appearance, when all the neighbouring trees remain in their wintry buc.
i Poplar or Afpen ( populus tremula.) This tree is
mor e frequently found in open or clear land, than in thick woods. It is of quick growth. The wood is
white, foft and fmooth. It is ufed for lafts and heels o fihoes, and for fome kinds of turned work.
Black : poplar or Balfam tree. This is a beautiful foreft tre e, of a large fize, and quick growth ; very proper fo. r walks and fhades. Its buds, in the fpring, are full of "a rich balfam, refembling the balfam of Peru. As the buds expand the balfam difappears.
Of the N Maple we have three ipecies. 1. The white (acer . negundo) efpecially that which is curled in its grain, is much ufed in cabinet work; it is firm and fino oth ; it takes a fine polith, and may be ftained of the colour of black walnut or mahogany. 2. The red (a er rubrum) grows in fwamps, and is fit only for fue 1. 3. The black or rock maple, ex- ceeds the other. s in this refpect, being of a very clofe texture, hard an id heavy, even when perfectly dry. But the grand e xcellency of this tree, is the faccha- rine quality of i ts fap, which has obtained for it the name of Sugar n naple, (acer faccharinum.)
Thofe trees which grow in cleared land, do not yield fap in fuch quantities as thofe which grow in the thick woods ; but it is richer. The fame dif-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
ference is obferved between thofe which grow in wet and in dry land.
To procure the fap, an incifion is made by two fcores, an inch and half, or two inches deep, and from fix to eight inches long, in the form of the let- ter V. This method of tapping caufes the tree to bleed very freely, and in two or three years, kills it ; a circumstance not much regarded where the trees are numerous, and a continual fuccellion of them, may be had ; but if care be taken to tap them, by making a finall circular incifion, and filling it with a plug when the feafon is paft, the bark will cover the wound, and the tree will laft many years. From the lower part of the incifion, the fap is guided by a fmall ftick into a trongh, containing two or three gallons. Thefe troughs are made by cutting the the pine, or fome other foft wood, into pieces of a yard long, and fplitting them in halves, a cavity is then made in each half, by a narrow axe, and fo ex- pert are the woodmen at this bufinefs, that one of them will make thirty or forty in a day. Larger troughs or vats, are placed in a central fituation, to ferve as refervoirs for the fap when collected.
The feafon for tapping the trees is in March, and the fap will not run but in a clear day, fucceeding a frofty night. A full grown tree will then yield from two to three gallons each day. The perfons employed in the bufinefs, vifit each tree, and, col- lecting the fap in buckets, remove it to the larger troughs, or, if the ground be very extenfive, it is put into barrels, which are drawn on fleds to the place appointed for boiling. 'The kettles in which it is boiled, are commonly the fame which are ufed for culinary purpofes, fufpended in the ufoal man- ner, but the beft way is to ufe broad kettles, fer in brick or ftone, with the fire confined under the bot- tom, and not flaming up round the fides, in which
1
86
HISTORY OF
cafe there is danger of burning the fugar. As the fap evaporates the kettles are filled up, the boiling is continued, and the liquor is fkimmed till it be- comes a thick fyrup. In this ftate it may reft for a week, and in the mean time, more of the fap may undergo the fame procefs, and be reduced to a lefs quantity.
The next operation is granulating, which may be done on a cloudy day, when no fap can be collected, But if there be a fucceffion of fair weather, the trees will difcharge fo faft, that the collection muft be attended to by day, and the boiling by night. When the fyrup is to be granulated, the boiling is repeated. The kettle is then not more than half filled, to prevent wafte. To check the too fudden rifing of the liquor, a fmall piece of clean butter or tallow is occafionally thrown in. To know when it will granulate, a little of it is taken out and cool- ed, and when it appears to be in this flate, the whole is poured into a cooler. After the grain is formed, it is hung in bags to drain. A fmall quan- tity of quick lime, put into the liquor, as is ufual in the Weft-Indies, would promote and improve the granulation.
In every ftage of the work much neatnefs is re- quired. The fap muft be ftrained through a flan- nel fieve before the firft boiling, to clear it of chips, leaves and other adventitious fubftances ; and be- fore the fecond boiling, it muft undergo another ftraining. When the feafon is over, the troughs are either piled in a dry place, bottom upward, or fet on end againft the trees, to be kept clean for another feafon. The fugar, thus procured, is, by fome of the neateft workmen, rendered as white as the fineft mufcovado. It is an agreeable fweet, frequently fupplying the place of milk and meat, and afford- ing wholefome and nourifhing food for children.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
The drainings of the fugar, or the laft run of the fap, which will not granulate, are ufed as molaffes, to fweeten cakes, puddings and other viands. A very palatable and refrefhing beer is made by boil- ing down the fap to a quarter part, and fermenting it with yeaft, and another extremely wholefome liquor, is obtained from the decoction of fpruce in the fap. Vinegar alfo is made by expofing the fap to the air.
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