198 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



at that time, will probably bear due proportion to the increased 



« 



quantity of it. If the price of such wood in the market to-day 

 is four dollars per cord, it may then be seven dollars, and the 

 whole lot would be worth two hundred and ten dollars per acre. 



This may appear, at first sight, to be no very large return for 

 so long an investment of money. We have heard it said, that 

 it is far better to abandon such acres, and seek a more profitable 

 investment of capital in the fertile prairies of the West. And 

 we confess that for an immediately gainful return, the prospect 

 at the West may be far more inviting; but, in addition thereto, 

 must be taken all the discomforts and disadvantages of the 

 change of residence, in comparison with the familiar comforts 

 and advantages of a New England home. But it is idle to start 

 the question of comparative remuneration in the case. Here 

 are three acres of light and almost barren soil, and the question 

 is, whether they cannot be made productive and converted to 

 some profitable use. We cannot abandon them. The farms 

 and homesteads of New England cannot be deserted. We must 

 adopt better methods of cultivation, and make better use of light 

 and unimproved lands. We must renew and enlarge our forests, 

 by a judicious planting of different sorts of trees for fuel, build- 

 ing and the arts. We must adorn and beautify spots now bar- 

 ren, with the growth they are best capable of sustaining, and 

 thus increase their capacity of use to the generations that may 

 succeed us here. In this way, we may do much to lessen the 

 inducements which are now carrying so many of the young and 

 active yeomanry away from their homes. 



Besides, if we look closely at the mere profit of the investment, 

 in the case before us, we may be led to regard it in a very 

 different light. Here are three and a half acres of very light 

 land, worth perhaps, in their present condition, fifteen dollars 

 per acre, the interest and taxes of which would be, say, (for we 

 do not intend an exact calculation,) one dollar. They are sown 

 with rye one year, and planted or pastured the next. But this 

 cultivation, it is stated, yields no greater return than would 

 cover the cost. They would remain, therefore, unprofitable 

 acres unless converted to some better use. They are now sown 

 with seeds of the pine tree. These germinate well, and their 

 growth is rapid ; and at the period of twenty years we find these 

 acres covered with a burden of fifteen cords per acre of good mer- 



