STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 119 



as quickly as possible, the soft maple, or even cottonwood, may be rec- 

 ommended, though the latter I would not ordinarily recommend. The 

 box elder is a good little tree for this purpose ; it is clean and handsome, 

 and, in moist rich land, is a reasonably fast grower. Where rapidity of 

 growth is not an object, and land is valuable, the white oak is the best ; 

 it grows slowly, throws its roots deep, taking no nourishment from the 

 surface, where farm products derive all their nourishment, and eventually 

 makes the best of timber. The tap root of an oak has been known to 

 penetrate as far below the surface as the tree rises above it. The roots, 

 though much deeper, extend as far around as those of most other trees. 



The black walnut is a good grower, and easily cultivated, but it 

 monopolizes much land. Few things, even trees, will grow near it. It 

 absorbs the nutriment of the surface for a long distance around, and I 

 think exhales an emanation that is somewhat poisonous to other vegeta- 

 tion. Possibly the leaves contain ingredients that are injurious to the 

 soil, though most leaves enrich it ; yet, on account of its superior timber, 

 easy culture, and many other good qualities, where land is plenty it is 

 one of the first to be recommended. 



The ash trees are valuable for this purpose. They are thrifty growers, 

 clean, make excellent wood, and interfere little with the growth of vege- 

 tables, grass or grain. The hard maple — one of our most valuable trees — 

 is suitable for all places where there is a clay subsoil. The willow, of 

 course, comes in where the soil is too wet for other trees. For a simple 

 shade tree, the white elm has no superior in our forests. The shell bark 

 hickory and the pecan may be recommended. The hackberry is a fine 

 tree, and will grow in the most exposed places. The linn makes a good 

 growth, and is an ornamental tree. There are others that may do equally 

 well, but those we have named are among the best known and most suit- 

 able for road-side planting. 



To adopt and carry out any efficient measures for the protection and 

 extension of our forests for timber, and for modifying climate, requires 

 the aid of government. It must at least be encouraged by legislation. 

 And here the great difficulty lies in harmonizing the right of the State and 

 the land-holder. It is not like most other things, that may be left wholly 

 to the option of the land-owners. It is not like trade and business gene- 

 rally, that is governed by the law of supply and demand. The earth is 

 for man — not for one generation. One generation has no moral right to 

 denude the earth of its forests, and leave it to the next naked and bare, 

 because it will not pay six or ten per cent, interest on the money invested 

 in planting trees. The government should have and exercise the right to 

 place some restrictions on the indiscriminate destruction of forests, and 

 should make some substantial provisions for planting more. We cannot 

 now do much more than call attention to the importance of the subject 

 and the necessity for action. It is folly to say that the present reckless 

 destruction of timber in this country will not be followed by serious con- 

 sequences in the near future. If any one thinks so, a little investigation 

 into the present condition of Europe will undeceive him. What was 

 done in Europe during several centuries will be done here in less than 



