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 &quot;a wide field,&quot; 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 &quot; Highland and Agricultural Society of 

 Scotland,&quot; as an instance of the immense ad 

 vantages which a country may derive from a 



