FOREST TREES. 199 



chan table wood, worth in the market say one hundred and twenty- 

 five dollars ; and it has cost nothing more than the planting and 

 protecting of the trees. But it will yield its owner an interest 

 of more than thirty per cent, per annum on his original invest- 

 ment. No doubt we have estimated the original value of the 

 land above its actual or market worth. If so, there is of course 

 an equally large addition to be made to the annual interest 

 which the investment will yield. May we not ask if — all things 

 considered — the prairie lands of the West are more to be desired 

 in a pecuniary point of view ? But this pecuniary profit from 

 the investment is not all. There is a mental satisfaction derived 

 from the cultivation and improvement of one's paternal acres, — 

 from beautifying the spot where it has been our happiness to 

 own our nativity, — where are the civil and religious institutions 

 and the social advantages we most value, and where we trust 

 our children will make their pleasant homes, — which no money 

 can purchase. 



Of the remaining half of Mr. Metcalf's lands, we shall only 

 say, that it was sown some years later, with the seeds of the 

 white pine and birch trees, as may be seen by his statement 

 annexed, and that it now bears an equally flourishing growth of 

 valuable wood. 



Another plantation of forest trees was examined, belonging 

 to Mr. Alfred H. Metcalf, of Franklin. 



This plantation is upon land of similar soil, and adjoining that 

 of which we have spoken. On the 12th of June, 1850, Mr. 

 Metcalf transplanted to this spot, from scattered points in the 

 open field nearby, four hundred young white pine trees. These 

 all lived and grew thriftily. In May of the following year, 1851, 

 he transplanted four hundred more, making the whole planta- 

 tion cover about two-thirds of an acre. For the precise manner 

 in which this was done, we refer to Mr. Metcalf's statement. 

 But one tree has failed to take root and flourish ; and there 

 stands a fine, thrifty grove, presenting to the eye a beautiful 

 prospect, exciting in the breast of its owner emotions of satis- 

 faction and honest pride, and promising a liberal return in 

 money for the investment and labor. 



We commend both these instances to the consideration of the 

 members of the society, with the assurance that, if any one is 

 disposed to examine these plantations, his visit will be received 



