218 TRANSACTIONS OP THE HORTICULTURAL 



Upon the juuicious cultivation of our art depends successful 

 agriculture and horticulture. It is true that a deep rich soil is one 

 of the first essential conditions for the successful production of all 

 kinds of vegetable forms, l)ut there are other conditions quite as im- 

 portant; a sufficient and timely rain-fall, general distribution and 

 retention of moisture in the soil, the best protection from devastating 

 storms, and from injur}^ by early and late frosts. 



These conditions cannot be well and thoroughly secured without 

 a considerable proportion of forest growth distributed through cul- 

 tivated districts. 



Large forests on mountainous districts, or along streams of 

 water, may favorably affect the plain below, even hundreds of miles 

 distant, by gradually letting off its moisture during summer from 

 the accumulated snow of winter, yet small groves at a few miles 

 distant of each other would add to the productiveness and to the 

 wealth of even such a favored district. It is not simply the extent 

 of the forest area of a nation that would render it rich in wood pro- 

 ducts, or secure its best agricultural resources, but a thorough and 

 general distribution of forest growth in all parts of the country. 

 Some parts of the United States have had too extensive tracts of 

 timber, and required to be partially cut away, as well for agricultural 

 resources as for the uses of the wood, while other parts are vast naked 

 plains, and urgently need forest clothing to secure its best agricul- 

 tural and horticultural interests, and the production of wood. 



When our fathers first settled the eastern portion of the Uni- 

 ted States they found vast areas of timber, some of which had to 

 to be cleared away ere any considerable agricultural or horticultural 

 interests could be secured. The woodman's axe was the first sound of 

 the civilization we have so rapidly attained. 



At first the timber could not be used, as the colonies were 

 weak and their necessities few. The demand of our times for forest 

 products for mechanical and chemical uses did not exist, so they must 

 be destroyed. Neither the beauty nor the antiquity of those grand 

 forests could prevent their destruction to make the opening for the 

 pioneer's home. But as soon as a sufficient home-interest was 

 secured to sustain an active and industrious people, the forests began 

 to be utilized in the construction of large cities, thriving towns and 

 villages, scattered all along the Atlantic coast, and reaching out iuto 

 the Middle and even to the Western States. We well remember the 

 clearing processes practised by the early settlers. Trees were thickl}^ 

 felled together in rows, allowed to dry one season and were then 

 burned. Log rolling and huge log bonfires followed, to finish clearing 

 the ground. The deadening process was also resorted to, the dense 

 shade being removed, the deadening soon became valuable pasture 

 lands, and being constantly drawn upon for fuel, rails, post, shingles 

 and lumber, in a few years it was ready for the plow. 



