2 28 The Journal of Forestry. 



hospitality of our country should ]\Ir. Northrop pay us a visit, and 

 will do their best to make his stay amongst us as pleasant to himself 

 and as profitable to his enterprising State as it is possible for private 

 individuals to do, since our Government is an age behind other 

 European States in the provision it makes for the entertainment and 

 enlightenment of such distinguished delegates, who may come from 

 other countries to observe and inquire into the economic principles 

 and practical working of our rural industries, more particularly in 

 the important branch of Forestry, which up to the present day is 

 totally neglected by the British Government. Such a deplorable and 

 unsatisfactory state of matters will not, we hope, be allowed to 

 remain much longer as a reproach against us. 



It is highly encouraging to see the laudable endeavours which 

 this State of Connecticut is now making to rectify the ruthless waste 

 in former times of its noble forests, and to rehabilitate the face of the 

 country with a verdant mantle of waving woods, ameliorating the 

 wintry blast, and affording grateful shade from the scorching heat of 

 an American summer. In the neighbouring State of Llassachusetts 

 very liberal prizes are being oftered for tree planting, with a view to 

 stimulating this important branch of rural industry. Three prizes of 

 1,000, 600, and 400 dollars, or about £250, £150, and £100, are 

 offered for the best plantations of larch, or Scots fir, where it is 

 found more suitable ; each competing plantation to consist of not less 

 than five acres, and to have been originally planted with not less 

 than 2,700 trees to the acre. To qualify a plantation for competing 

 it is also stipulated that it must be made on poor, worn-out land, or 

 land which is otherwise unfit for agricultural purposes ; a wise pro- 

 vision in a case of this nature. There are also prizes of about ^6150 

 and £100 offered on the same conditions, only that they must con- 

 tain at first planting not less than 5,000 trees per acre, for plantations 

 of American white ash. The competing plantations were to be made 

 this season, and must be open at all times to a committee appointed for 

 their inspection, and who will award the prizes during the too distant 

 summer of 1877. A pamphlet of valuable instructions and sugges- 

 tions on tree planting, by Professor Sargent, director of the Botanic 

 Garden and Arboretum of Harvard University, is published by the 

 State Board of Agriculture, for the information of those who con- 

 template planting, so that they can scarcely fail in making it both a 

 pleasure and a very profitable investment of their capital. 



The clearing of land from big boulders and rock, and the grubbing 

 out and bursting up of large tree roots, are two of the most laborious 

 and expensive operations connected with forestry and estate man- 



