DETERIORATION OF LAND. 141 



permanent but only gradual return, is repug- 

 nant to their habits. 



To those who are actuated by such views, 

 it were probably vain to remark, that although 

 the States are indeed * * a wide field, " the encrease 

 of population there is astonishingly rapid that 

 the clearing of the forests has already extended so 

 far as to excite in some quarters an apprehen- 

 sion of a dearth of timber and that there is 

 reason to think a great many years may not 

 elapse before all the reclaimable land shall have 

 been brought into cultivation. 



With a view to the public interests of the 

 States, it seems, therefore, a matter of serious 

 importance, that the destruction of land by ir- 

 remediable impoverishment should be prevent- 

 ed. How far this might be accomplished by 

 the establishment of institutions in the differ- 

 ent States, having for their object the encou- 

 ragement of approved modes of husbandry > 

 I may not presume to say, but I may refer to 

 the " Highland and Agricultural Society of 

 Scotland," as an instance of the immense ad- 

 vantages which a country may derive from a 



