46 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



coimtiy, to-day, greater than that of fertilizing materials — 

 the very gold of the nation. These materials, for which our 

 lands suffer, and for the want of W'hich may at length wear 

 out, are allowed to pass away in the winds, to flow oft" in the 

 drains and in the sewers, and to be washed away by the 

 streams. And thus there are lost in our country tens, nay 

 hundreds, of millions of dollars every year ! And on many a 

 farm where farming does not seem to pay, the fertilizers 

 which are wasted, would, if saved, more than pay for the 

 clothing of the entire household. When we know and fully 

 appreciate these facts, we shall realize how much there is for 

 the farmer yet to do for the advancement of his own interests, 

 and those of the State. 



Farmers can greatly benefit themselves, and confer lasting 

 benefits upon the State, by preserving and increasing the 

 forests. This is a subject in which every person in our 

 country should have the deepest interest. Farmers, mechanics, 

 manufacturers, merchants, builders of railroads and ware- 

 houses, capitalists and statesmen — all classes and all com- 

 munities in the State and in the nation — have their welfare 

 linked Avith the forests ; and as the forests are preserved or 

 destroyed, so their dearest w^orldly interests will flourish or 

 decay. What havoc has been made among the forests of 

 this country ! What useless havoc ! And still the work of 

 destruction goes on. Whole forests are felled ; hills and 

 mountain-sides are laid bare ; and all apparently without one 

 thousrht of the ruin that is sure to follow. 



We are cutting our forests to-day faster than they grow ; 

 and if this process continues, not only will the fire on the 

 hearth be a luxury which few or none can enjoy, and lumber 

 and timber be difficult to obtain, but the streams from the 

 mountain-sides will disappear ; barrenness Avill take the place 

 of fertility on our mountains and on our slopes ; and the wdieels 

 along our streams will cease to turn, and the spindles and the 

 shuttles will cease their motion — unless driven by some other 

 power than water. 



There is no doubt as to the results which are sure to 

 follow the destruction of the forests of a country. The 

 examples are too many and too sad, to make it necessary 

 that they should be multiplied. 



