316 SYLVA AMERICANA. 



and elevation, the cause will, in many instances, be found in the 

 want of the shelter and shade of trees, and of the ameliorating 

 influence which plantations exercise on ungenial local climates. 



The essential, permanent pasture grasses cannot be established 

 on naked exposed situations ; but when assisted by the shelter of 

 forest trees they become permanent and productive. Plantations 

 supply us with fuel, with materials for fencing, inclosing, building ; 

 corn crops, soiling plants, and root crops are obtained in 

 succession under their genial protection. Many millions of 

 acres now unprofitable to the owners and to the community, 

 might, by judicious planting, be reclaimed, and rendered highly 

 productive ; and it may be safely affirmed, that there is hardly 

 a spot of waste land in the Union so barren, which by the 

 exercise of skill in planting, and selection of proper species of 

 forest trees adapted to the soil and exposure, might not be 

 covered with profitable plantations. 



Numerous instances might be cited from different parts of this 

 Republic where exposed and sterile lands have, by planting, 

 been made capable of producing valuable arable crops and the 

 best pasture grasses, and of rearing and fattening stock of improved 

 breeds. This, in effect, is adding to the territorial extent of a 

 country, to its wealth and strength, by conquest over the natural 

 defects of local climate, soil and exposure. 



The subject of planting may, with propriety, be divided into 

 three parts: useful or forest-tree planting, ornamental or gardening- 

 planting, and orchard or fruit-tree planting. Each of these 

 divisions of the subject, from its importance and interest, in a 

 national point of view, as well as to individuals, seems to demand 

 a distinct treatise. 



The first of these, forest-tree planting, is proposed for the 

 subject of the following pages; and the details of the theory and 

 practice of the art discussed under the following heads : 1st of 

 earths and soils ; 2d of the different modes of rearing forest trees; 

 3d of the soils and sites most profitably employed in the growth 

 of timber ; 4th of the most approved modes of preparing different 

 soils for the reception of the plants ; and 5th of the culture of 

 plantations. 



