212 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



fell the forest in the early part of the winter ; and, probably, 

 taking into consideration both the quality of the wood cut and 

 the welfare of the future forest, this may be best. 



When the object is to destroy the growth, summer is univer- 

 sally declared to be the best season to fell the forest. 



It is among the things most unfavorable to the growth of 

 trees, to gather the leaves, as is frequently done, either to burn, 

 or add them to the compost heap. This is bad economy. The 

 other circumstances particularly unfavorable to the growth of 

 trees, are browsing, pruning, a thin soil, exposure to sea breezes, 

 to high winds and to frosts. The first of these, completely 

 within the control of the forester, is the browsing of cattle. All 

 animals should be entirely excluded from woodlands intended 

 to renew themselves. 



I have already spoken of pruning. "Where the object is wood, 

 it may be doubted whether any pruning is advisable, except in 

 the case that the branch of one tree materially interferes with 

 the growth of another. Plants receive food by their roots, and 

 digest and convert it to their various products, by and in their 

 leaves. Both roots and leaves should, therefore, be left to 

 extend and expand themselves as freely as possible. Whatever 

 checks this expansion has a tendency to lessen the product of 

 wood. 



On thin soil, the roots cannot penetrate far, and a tree, sur- 

 rounded by others, will soon exhaust the proper nutriment 

 within its circle, and must then begin to fail. As soon as this 

 happens it must be removed, and trees of other families must be 

 sown or planted in its stead. 



Most forest trees are injuriously affected by the sea breeze, 

 and we generally find them stunted and dwarfed by its influ- 

 ence. The remedy is to plant, numerously, the hardiest trees 

 along the seaward border. 



Wherever trees are planted for use in the arts, it is important 

 to give them the most rapid growth possible. Of wood growing 

 on the same soil, that which grows most rapidly is strongest. 

 That of which the circles or grains of growth are narrowest is 

 also weakest. 



The strength of trees is proportioned to the weight. And as 

 young trees grow more rapidly than old ones, so they are more 

 valuable as fuel. 



