31 August 1826
adams-john10 Neal Millikan
384

31. IV. Before day-light— Survey of Wood-lots— Fair day.

Morton Homer Whitman. Kilborn Turner— Ruth Boardman

We continued the Survey of the Woodlots— Mr Withington came, and we started about 9. A.M. turned up at the lane opposite to Arnold’s, just beyond the old ninth Mile Stone, and entered the fields a few rods beyond David Porter’s House— We were engaged part of the morning in correcting an error made yesterday—our company now being, with the Surveyor, my brother, Harmon, Elijah Spear, Farrar, Ordway, and William Pote, my servant man— Spear left us after the survey was completed of the lot with the bounds of which he was acquainted. That is about noon— The Survey of the last Lots called Borlands being 25 acres we could not complete, the line running through a Swamp so deepened by the late rains that although William and Farrar waded nearly half their depth into it, Mr Withington could not get all the lines for it— The day was passed much the same as yesterday; but this day we returned and took our dinner, which was precisely similar to that of yesterday, at the place where we had left our horses and carriages— We went forth again however after dinner, and completed all that can be done by Mr Withington— The only bounds which mark the lines between the lots of different individuals are small heaps of Stones placed in certain directions by the Compass— We returned home about six in the Evening, and in coming from the fields turned to the right and came round by the old mill-pond, and the Meeting House— I pursued this day as far as I was able, the enquiry concerning trees and plants, but with little more than the conviction, that weeks, months and years would be necessary to obtain an accurate knowledge of even the plants which cover the surface of the grounds we have traversed I confined my attention to the trees and shrubs principally— To the Oaks mentioned yesterday are to be added, the Red-Oak, the Sycamore or Button wood, the American Poplar, and White Birch— The Poke-Berry, Brake, and Fern, with the poisonous Ivy, and yet more poisonous dogwood— And there were yet many herbs, plants and vegetations from the earth of which no one could tell the names. When I returned home I found, Mr Morton and Mr Homer from Connecticut, asking for a subscription. Mr Kilborn Whitman afterwards called— Ruth Turner, and Miss Boardman were here at tea with the young Ladies— My wife was quite ill, and was attended by Dr Holbrook— My Son John and T. B. Hellen had returned from Boston.

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