J-34 AGRICULTURAL ES3ATS. 



as winch of the land of its forest trees as is practicable, and a& 

 soon as the roots are sufficienly decayed to admit of cultivation,to 

 plough and sow and reap, till the rich vegetable mould is cx- 

 Jiausted; and then instead of adopting such a mode of cultivatioa 

 as may perpetuate its fertility, they fly to new forests for relief. 

 By this means, too great'a portion of our lands are cleared 

 ©f their trees, while vast tracts of those which are called im- 

 proved, often present to our view a miserable barren waete. 



The next error vi that of running over the old forests that 

 remain, to pick out the few scattered trees in a state of decay. 

 "By this means it is believed, the saving of such trees will 

 not generally compensate for the loss which is sustained by 

 the injury to young sprouts, and by the loss of the more rapid 

 growth of the eproute, which the roots of the trees might pro- 

 duce when left uBshaded and undisturbed, according to the 

 system adopted in France. This practice of running over eve- 

 vy part of the forest tcvpick out the decaying and dead trees, 

 may be justifiable where bad economy and other circumstan- 

 ces has, eo far reduced the number of forest trees; as to 

 render the entire consumption of the present growth indispen- 

 sable, sooner than fuel can be expected from the new growth. 

 Such a state of our wood lands, however, can hardly be con- 

 ceived, and even under any circumstances it would be difficuld 

 to show that a more durable and abundant growth of forest 

 trees for fuel might not be expected from the wood landar 

 throutrhout the United States, by cutting them smooth and 

 cleanr especially clearing off all trees which have arrived to 

 any considerable degree of maturity ; reserving occasionally 

 a few scattering ones which might be wanted for timber. 



The farmer who would appropriate but a small portion of 

 his lands to forest, might find it for his interest to have a small 

 spot of ground set apart for the purposes of an artificial forest. 

 Thetocust is a very valuable tree to cultivate either for 

 fuel or other purposes. It is said this tree will grow well on 

 barren sandy land, and indeed on every kind of dry soil where 

 the climate is not too cold ; though a sandy loam or gravelly 

 loam is best suited for it. The trees will acquire a considera- 

 ble size in fifteen years, and in about twenty-five years are 

 full grown. The timber is very good for the trunions and 

 knees of vessels, for cogs for mills and many other purposes, 

 which require solidity and durability. It will last from fifty ta 

 sixtr years for fence posts, and is excellent for fuel. 



The following is an easy method of raising it. Plant about 

 twenty trees on an acre ; and when they have got to be about 

 twelve feet high, and their roots well extended, run straggling 



