The poor quality soil left by the ice sheets in many places can by no means be rich for farming and crops. Sand is not far beneath the top soil except in a few meadow areas which the early settlers sought for their plantings. One example of a rich soil area is in the “mile and a half strip” in the region of Plymouth Rock which the Indians used for their plantings almost up to the time the _Mayflower_ arrived. This strip of rich soil was good fortune for the Pilgrims, a decisive factor making it possible for the newcomers to grow corn and other crops and survive the first years. The prevailing soil was hospitable for white pines and pitch pines, now growing everywhere, as well as for cedars which have a liking for swamps. There are small patches of almost untouched original forest still found on the original Burgess homestead tract. There are a few isolated giant white pines up to 140 feet in height and trunks over three feet in diameter. I have found one white pine, straight and of enormous height, with a trunk measuring 84” around at the base, a diameter of 27” or so. Pines are a sun loving tree and in these undisturbed wooded areas one can observe how they gradually overcame the oaks and other hardwoods by reaching higher for the sun. From 1688 the king’s decree reserving all white pine of trunk diameter of 24” or more for the royal navy masts was enforced. Such trees were marked with an arrow to identify them as crown property. The acid soil found in the area is a factor in the type of growth for shrubs and wildflowers found here. High bush and low bush blueberries, as well as huckleberries grow in abundance. Shadbushes, also juneberries, usually the first shrub to blossom in the spring, supposedly when shad or alewives move up from salt water into the freshwater streams for spawning, are seen around the property. There are three of considerable age near the house. Other members of the heath family thrive. Wild white azaleas grow in the shady areas near the ponds. Sheep laurel grows in many places. Wintergreen or checkerberry is common in the woods, their red berries a delight to the taste in the autumn. Trailing arbutus, called mayflower by the new arrivals, is thought to be the first bloom of spring they saw. It is found along banks in shady old wood roads in the early part of April after the snows have gone. This is also the state flower of Massachusetts. In June elderberry and arrowroot shrubs flower with white blossoms in many places. Steeple bush and sweet pepperbush give off their fragrance later on in the summer. Bayberry grows most everywhere and in the fall their silver berries are ready for those who would make candles from their wax.