140 Wisconsin State Horuicultural Society. 



the almost worthless kinds. The thickets of poplar, bird-cherry 

 and brambles that spring up on our burned and wasted lands in 

 the north, and the old-field pine and black-jack on the exhausted 

 soil of the south, but poorly represent the majestic timber of the 

 primeval forest and give a false idea when spoken of as " wood- 

 lands," or as a source of timber supply. It is sometimes said, and 

 perhaps truly, that in many sections of the country, as in certain 

 parts of the New England states, and in what were called " oak 

 openings" or "barrens," in some of the western states, 

 there is now as much " woodland" (in a qualified sense), 

 as there was thirty years ago. This may be true as to 

 acreage, but it is exceedingly less in value. This young 

 growth has indeed its value, for its presence is gradually 

 restoring fertility to the soil, and in time it will produce valu- 

 able material for future use, but it must be many years before it 

 can be profitably sawn into lumber, or hewn into timbers, and it 

 would require centuries to produce the enormous dimensions of 

 the timber we have seen disappear. Were this restoration that we 

 see occasionally going on from our neglect, and without our 

 thought or care, controlled and aided with intelligence, the pros 

 pect before us would be much better than at present, and this 

 might be done without great time or expense. 



I was lately in a piece of woodland which, sevent?en years be- 

 fore, was a thicket of young oak trees, s) smill th\t a wagon 

 could be driven over them anywhere, and so close together that 

 none of them could grow to profitable size until many had died. 

 The owner caused them to be thinned out, and had kept them 

 from injury by cattle, until now, some of these trees are large 

 enough for railroad ties and fence posts, and would sell for more 

 per acre without the land than some of the best adjoining fields 

 that have been kept under cultivation. As a general rule, it costs 

 no more to grow a tree that will be valuable when mature, 

 than it does one of little value. With some attention the first 

 year or two, and protection from injury by stock until it has 

 grown beyond the reach of danger, it will generally take care of 

 itself, and a grove will need no further attention than occasional 

 thinning, as the growth becomes dense, the material thus taken 

 out bsing often worth more than the co3t of this attendance. 



