TIMBER CULTURE. 519 



which every individual ought to know. It is a most important fact in the relations of the 

 vegetable world to mankind. Every tree is a purifier of the atmosphere. There are on the 

 leaves of every tree literally millions of little openings, large enough for the particles of air 

 to enter, and into which they do enter. When a breeze passes over a forest, or over a single 

 tree, the particles of air enter these little openings in the leaves, and there the leaves part 

 with their carbonic acid, which is so unwholesome to breathe; they part with their nitrogen, 

 and with everything else, really, which is not perfectly wholesome, and they pour into the air 

 pure oxygen. The forest thus completely purifies the air that blows through it; it takes from 

 it everything that is poisonous or even injurious to man, and throws out to us pure oxygen, 

 or that mixture of oxygen which is best for us to breathe. 



There are regions in Italy which anciently were very wholesome and pleasant places to 

 live in, but which, for the last one or two hundred years, have been growing more and more 

 unhealthy, until, a few years ago, they were considered pestiferous and unsafe for anybody 

 to live in, and those who dwelt there took care to go away at certain seasons of the year. 

 This was in a part of Italy nearest the sea, which is thence called Maremma. Within a few 

 years trees have been planted in various places in that region, and the effect has been to 

 restore the original purity of the atmosphere. Large forests have been planted in some 

 places, and the region has in consequence become perfectly healthy, so that the ancient towns 

 and villages which had been deserted are again repeopled. The same thing has been found 

 in various other parts of Europe, and also in this country. In Washington, a gentleman 

 who had paid some attention to this subject, said : Here is a region which the soldiery have 

 occupied, and found very unhealthy. If you will give me leave, I will plant it with sun 

 flowers. He planted a great number, several rows, and the effect was immediate. The very 

 next season that region, protected by the sunflowers, became healthy. . The sunflowers have 

 been continued, or something else put in their places trees and plants of various kinds; and 

 that region is now one of the most healthy in Washington. The lives of hundreds of our 

 soldiers and others who are obliged to live in Washington, have undoubtedly been saved by 

 that device of the sunflowers. So, I say, you may render every farm more healthy, as well 

 as more pleasant, by planting trees.&quot; 



Although trees planted near a house beautify it and render it more healthful, yet they 

 should not be planted so near as to intercept the sun s rays, and thus shade it. A house from 

 which the sunshine is excluded will soon become unhealthful. They should be planted near, 

 yet always sufficiently removed to prevent shading. 



Yarieties of Trees for Planting. Great benefit may be derived to the timber 

 resources of the country by not only planting trees, but in preventing the needless destruction 

 of those that remain, especially young and immature trees. When necessary to cut timber, 

 there should be selected for this purpose only the mature trees, leaving the young and 

 vigorous ones for future growth. 



Tree-planting has, however, become a necessity, as a means of restoring the forests, and 

 the sooner and more thoroughly this is done, the better. 



The questions naturally arise with regard to the varieties best adapted for the purpose, 

 when, where, and how to plant them. With respect to the first, much will of course depend 

 upon the locality and climate. As a general rule, the most valuable timber trees adapted to the 

 climate should be planted. Most of the forest trees thrive best when they are mixed with 

 others that differ widely from them in character. 



A natural forest is always mixed, and Nature s rule in this respect is the safe one to 

 follow. Different varieties probably extract different elements from the soil, the same as 

 different kinds of agricultural plants, and this is doubtless the reason for it. That a tree may 

 be useful for general planting, it is necessary that it should grow without culture over a 

 large belt of country, thus possessing the power to thrive and adapt itself to various condi- 



