THE FAEMER'S EELATIONS TO THE STATE. 49 



ders, and everything before them, and swelling the rivers so 

 that they, in tnrn, carry destruction along their course. Thus 

 the water soon disappears from the hills, and these are soon 

 dry and mostly barren, and the water-courses are soon only a 

 dry and rocky bed, so to remain till there comes another 

 rainfall. 



In this great work of the preservation and increase of the 

 forests, none have a greater opportunity, or a greater respon- 

 sibility, than the farmer. If he would do what is best for his 

 own interests, and best for the State, he would not allow 

 another forest to be destroyed, where he has the power to 

 preserve it. 



Yes, we must all interest ourselves in this great matter of 

 the preservation and increase of the forests. The time has 

 come when no more forests should be destroyed, and when 

 many that have been destroyed should be replaced. 



In every forest, trees should be judiciously selected for 

 cutting; and, as fast as one is removed, another should be 

 planted in its place. And all the areas in our State, and in 

 other States, not suited or needed for agricultural purposes or 

 for grazing, should be planted with such trees as they are best 

 adapted to nourish and mature. 



There are vast areas in almost every State, which are of 

 little or no value, except for forests. Massachusetts has, 

 to-day, tens of thousands of acres of just such areas, every 

 rod of which should be planted with trees during the next two 

 years. And yet, while we have such a scarcity of woodland, 

 we are not only not planting forests to any considerable 

 extent, but we are cutting down whole forests, and laying 

 bare our hillsides and our mountains, as though there would 

 be no need of forests in the future. 



And here let me say, gentlemen, that the destruction of 

 forests now going on in Berkshire County will be sure to 

 bring sad results in the not far distant future. Not only will 

 our streams be dry the greater part of the year, but the soil 

 will be washed from the mountains and the hillsides. And 

 when these forests are gone, and the clear mountain streams 

 are dry, Berkshire will not only have lost much of her mate- 

 rial wealth, but she will have lost much of the magnificence and 

 beauty which have made her so attractive and so renowned. 

 7* 



