TIMBER CULTURE. 517 



and annihilation of our noble forests, unless some means are taken to check this waste and 

 restore them by planting trees. The European governments long ago recognized the de 

 struction of their forests as an evil, and took active measures to counteract it by planting 

 and cultivating trees, having special officers appointed to supervise the work. The care of 

 forests receive so much attention by most of the governments in Europe that schools have 

 been established where young men are educated with special reference to this branch of pub 

 lic service. 



In this country an increased interest is being taken in forestry, and we hope the time is 

 not far distant when more active measures than have yet been adopted will be taken in 

 regard to this subject. There are, in all sections of the country, tracts of waste or poor land 

 that might be devoted to timber culture most successfully and profitably. If each farmer, 

 even, would take measures to plant trees upon his own lands, that could most profitably be 

 devoted to the purpose, and encourage others to do so by example, much could be done in 

 this direction for future generations, as well as the present; for while some trees are of slow 

 growth and require a long time to reach maturity, others grow very rapidly, and will in a 

 few years attain a considerable size. 



Yarious Influences Exerted by Forests. The ruthless and wanton destruction 

 of the magnificent forests which once characterized our land, is to be greatly deplored, not 

 only on account of the reckless waste of valuable timber, and the barbarous practice that 

 depletes the face of the country of one of its most beautiful and attractive features, but also 

 on account of the deleterious effects of their removal upon the climate, vegetation, and health- 

 fulness of the country. The climatic influence exerted by trees, and the results that follow 

 their removal are subjects of great interest; and while there does not seem to be a perfect 

 unanimity of opinion among scientists in this respect, there is no doubt that not only the dis 

 tribution of the amount of rain-fall is greatly influenced by the removal of the forests, but 

 also the climate and healthfulness of a country, as well as the soil, and consequently its agri 

 cultural interests. 



We believe it was Humboldt who said that, in felling trees which cover the crowns and 

 slopes of mountains, man in all climates is evidently bringing upon future generations two 

 calamities at once a want of fuel and a scarcity of water. He might also have added, that 

 he who plants trees and protects them from destruction confers blessings upon future genera 

 tions, and for his philanthropy is worthy their gratitude. A certain poet has said, with much 

 truth, as well as considerable sarcasm: 



Give fools their gold, and knaves their power, 



Let fortune s bubbles rise and fall ; 

 Who sows a field or trains a flower, 



Or plants a tree, is more than all.&quot; 



For our own part, aside from all practical and utilitarian views of the subject, we never 

 could see the ax of the woodman on its mission of destruction, cutting into the very heart 

 and life of a noble tree, without a pang of pain penetrating our own soul, and an impulsive 

 desire to implore 



&quot; Oh, woodman, spare that tree! &quot; 



It may be a foolish superstition, but we have never been able to quite banish the impres 

 sion, that almost took the form of a certainty and belief in our childhood days, that every 

 noble tree possessed an indwelling spirit, and it was this that made them so companionable 

 and sympathetic; that whenever the ax penetrated into its life, a shudder of pain ran through 

 that noble trunk with each cruel blow, and when at last it fell, we could almost in imagination 

 hear the groan that accompanied the severing of that spirit from its loved habitation. 



Trees have a double mission utility and ornament; and while we would not underrate 

 the former, we would not ignore the latter; for whatever is beautiful in this world should be 



