The terrain on which the forest grows is perfectly flat and often marshy. On your way you encounter new clearings from time to time. As these establishments bear a perfect resemblance to each other, whethere they are to be found in the depths of Michigan or at the gate of New-York, I am going to describe them here once and for all. The bell the pioneer is careful to hang around the necks of his cattle in order to be able to find them in the thick woods announces from afar the approach to the clearing. Soon you here the ringing of the axe cutting the forest trees and, as you approach, traces of destruction proclaim with even greater certainty the presence of man.
Chopped branches cover the road.
Trunks half consumed by fire or mutilated by iron nevertheless continue to stand upright in your way. On examining them more closely you perceive that they have been circled by a deep trench cut in the bark, which, arresting the flow of sap, has not been slow to make them die. It's really with this that the planter usually begins. Being incapable the first year of cutting all the trees which garnish his new property he sows corn under their branches and, by killing them, prevents their shading his crop. After this field, the rough sketch, the first step of civilization in the wilderness, you suddenly perceive the cabin of the proprietor.