[99] For a history of the settlement of Gallipolis and the French Grant, see Michaux’s Travels, vol. iii of this series, pp. 182-185.
Claudius R. Menager, one of the original emigrants, had been a baker, and made use of his skill both as a merchant and tavern-keeper. He became the richest man in the colony, and died much respected.—Ed.
[100] Miller removed from Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was one of the first Methodists of this part of West Virginia. Upon his petition a preacher was sent to the backwoods settlements in 1803. Bishop Morris, an eminent divine of the same denomination, was born here in 1798, and passed his early years in this vicinity.—Ed.
[101] Would it not be a wise and prudent foresight in the present generation, in order that posterity might continue to enjoy the product of this invaluable tree, to plant orchards of them on the sides of untillable hills and other vacant grounds of little or no use? They might become a source of considerable wealth, in the course of twenty or thirty years, when the country gets thickly populated, and the trees made scarce from the present plan of destroying them in clearing of the lands. The expense of setting out an orchard of 500 or 1000 trees on each plantation, might cost, say, twenty-five cents each tree, together with the interest of the money for thirty years, at which period they would be worth about one dollar per year for about fifty or a hundred years thereafter. The following observations on the Maple tree, we copy from Dr. Mease’s “Geological account of the United States:”
“The genus acer, or maple, is useful for various purposes. The a. negundo, or white or ash leaved maple, is much used in cabinet work, being firm and smooth, takes a fine polish, and stain. The a. rubrum, or scarlet maple, when sawed into boards, exhibits the most beautiful waving appearance, and makes articles of furniture equal to satin wood. A species of maple abounds in Nova Scotia, and no doubt, farther south, called bird-eye maple, which also is very beautiful. But the a. saccharinum, or sugar maple, ranks in the first importance among our forest trees. This valuable native is peculiarly dear to the citizens of this country, as it furnishes an article of the first necessity, by the labour of free men, and of equal quality, to that produced by the sugar cane; and the timber is highly useful for various mechanical purposes, particularly for saddle trees. From the maple may also be made a pleasant molasses, an agreeable beer, a strong sound wine, and an excellent vinegar.
“The following facts upon the flowing of maple-juice, are curious, and deserve investigation.
“The flowing of maple-juice is as completely locked up by continued warmth as by frost, and only flows by the alternate operation of these agents. Yet the same degrees of heat, even after frost, have not always the same effect. Thus, a warm south wind stops the flowing more than a cool north-west wind. To judge from sensations, generally a bracing wind facilitates the discharge, and a relaxing wind acts to the contrary. Whether, or how far, electricity may operate in this case, must be left for future inquirers to determine. The juice flows for about twenty-four hours after a frost; but, when a tapped tree has ceased, tap a new tree, and it will flow considerably, as if a certain quantity was discharged by the frost. The juice flows from all sides of the incision.
“Cut a sugar maple early in the morning, if the night has been cold, and it will appear comparatively dry and devoid of juice, in every part of the tree. Cut it a few hours after, if the day is moderately warm, and the juice will issue almost in streams.”—Cramer.
{134} CHAPTER XX
Big Guiandot river—Crumps’s farm—Inhospitable reception—General remark—Two hunters—Cotton plantation, and gin for cleaning the cotton—Snakes—Remedy for their bite—Great Sandy river—State boundary—Hanging rock.