168 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



vate a new branch of taste. As to the profit of cultivating 

 trees, let me mention a single instance, before I close this 

 accidental portion of my remarks. There is a piece of land 

 in Lancaster, in this State, which was purchased in the early 

 l^art of this century, and was suffered to stand until the pur- 

 chaser died, a period of about half a century. It was a piece 

 of "sprout land." The pines had been cut off. The tall 

 masts of many a stately ship had stood there, I doubt not. 

 The trees were cut down, and the land was bought for perhaps 

 a dollar an acre, which was about the price in those days. 

 This land remained undisturbed for half a century or more, 

 and when the owner died, and his sons settled his estate, they 

 found that that land had increased in value in larsrer ratio 

 than land on State Street during the same time. 



So much for the profit of tree-growing. That forests can 

 be cut down judiciously, and raised judiciously, there is no 

 manner of doubt ; but let me suggest to you that there is 

 no more propriety in insisting upon it that an old forest shall 

 be allowed to stand, in spite of its falling branches and its 

 decaying heads, than there is in insisting that a farmer shall 

 not touch an old decayed orchard that his great-grandfather 

 planted before the battle of Bunker Hill — not the slightest. 

 The time always comes when an old forest should be cut down, 

 just exactly as you would remove any other old obstacle in 

 the way of progress. Remove it, and give nature another 

 chance. Do not insist upon it, that because a forest is old, it 

 must not be touched. Cut it down, if the proper time has 

 come, and wait for nature to take the next step in that branch 

 of business. Then plant your trees, or devote your land to 

 the growing of trees, just exactly as you plant corn and 

 potatoes, or sow barley and wheat, or turn to the raising of 

 grass. It is just as much a branch of business as either of 

 these, if you propose to pursue it profitably and well. 



In regard to the planting of trees, let me say one word. 

 I have planted a great many trees, and have lost a great 

 many, as everybody has. You cannot plant a Norway spruce 

 successfully upon an elevation exposed to the violent north- 

 west or north-east winds. It will not stand it. I have tried 

 it over and over again. If you want the handsomest tree that 

 grows, put the white pine there. If you want the next hand- 



