28 TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



November and April." This is confirmed by several other per- 

 sons who have enjoyed means of extended observation. The 

 convenience of the wood-cntter will generally lead him to fell 

 the forest in the early part of winter ; and, probably, taking into 

 consideration both the quality of the wood cut, and the welfare 

 of the future forest, this may be best. 



When the object is to destroy the growth, summer is univer- 

 sally declared to be the best season to fell a forest. As to the 

 month, opinions differ. Many say, August, or late in summer ; 

 some say, June and July, or midsummer. Mr. A. C. Metcalfe, 

 a very intelligent farmer of Lenox, says, — "In August, or when 

 the tree has attained its full growth for that season." This 

 seems to be the true period, at whatever time it takes place; 

 when the wood is formed and before it has hardened, and the 

 materials are laid up, in the trunk and root, for future growth. 

 Mr. A. Bacon describes a conclusive experiment. " A gentle- 

 man residing in this vicinity, effected the clearing of a lot of 

 young walnuts, (hickories,) oaks and birches, in the follow- 

 ing manner. He commenced cutting about the first of March, 

 and felled successive portions as he found leisure, till about 

 the first of July. That portion which was cut between the 

 18th and 30th of June, was killed to the letter. Those which 

 were cut before the leaves put forth, were most prompt in the 

 renewal of their sprouts." 



I find an opinion very generally expressed or implied, that 

 every tree has a period of growth, maturity and decay. This 

 is apparently hostile to the theory universally received by the 

 vegetable physiologists, that the growth of every exogenous * 

 tree, is, by its nature, indefinite. The discrepancy admits of 

 being easily reconciled. Throughout Massachusetts, in the 

 land left in forest, the soil is thin and poor. It will, therefore, 

 in a comparatively short period of years, be exhausted of the 

 nutriment essential to trees of any particular species. Every 

 tree, like every other organized being, must perish when de- 

 prived of its necessary food. It is not surprising, therefore, 



* All the common trees of our climate are exogenous, that is, they annually 

 form a layer of new wood between the old wood and the bark. 



