COMMUNICATIONS. 201 



man, should apply their skill and knowledge in the production 

 of large quantities of young trees, which, being properly pre- 

 pared, could be transferred to the farmer with much advantage 

 and profit to both parties. Doubtless many farmers and land- 

 holders are deterred from engaging in tree-planting, from a want 

 of knowledge and skill in obtaining seeds or young plants, and 

 in rearing them. This would be remedied if a few persons — 

 say one in each county — -would establish a nursery, from which 

 his neighbors could, at a moderate price, obtain supplies. 



It should be an object with us to preserve, in our villages, 

 towns and cities, specimens of the native forest trees of the 

 State. If those having the care of public grounds would give 

 a little attention to this subject, much beauty and interest would 

 be added to these places. Even the rows of trees along the 

 streets of our towns and cities might be made to represent the 

 ancient forest, now rapidly being defaced and swept away by the 

 all-devouring axe. What lasting beauty and variety would thus 

 be secured for those grounds and streets! A public square filled 

 mostly with trees of any single species, is a beautiful object; 

 but how much more beautiful and interesting it would be if it 

 contained sixty different trees, and an under-growth of an hun- 

 dred handsome and ornamental shrubs. Such places would at 

 once give character to the locality, and attract to it people of taste 

 and refinement. 



It would seem to be peculiarly appropriate for our Universi- 

 ties and Colleges to secure upon the grounds by which they are 

 surrounded, at least one good specimen of each tree and shrub 

 that grows nati rally in Wisconsin; and I will venture to pre- 

 dict that the University or College that shall first surround itself 

 with such an ^^ Ahjretum" will first secure the patronage and 

 good opinion of the people ; and will thus outstrip those institu- 

 tions that show a lack of taste and refinement, by omitting to 

 plant trees. 



It is found that the rate of increase of the wood growing on 

 an acre of land is about at the rate of one cord per year. In the 

 native woods, this quantity is annually destroyed by storms and 

 natural decay, thus making room for the new growth. A fami- 



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