i 



662 HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



whifli hns Wan worn wide and deep by previous generations in 

 tlitir downward course to destruction. Entire countries have be- 

 ronio liarren wastes in consequence of the destruction of their 

 forests ; nations have become impoverished, and those beacon 

 liirhts of greatness, the arts and manufactures, extinguished, and 

 the sole cause was the scarcity' of wood ; and yet in regions where 

 it is plentiful, the same improvident waste is going on, as though 

 the supply was inexhaustible, and that no deleterious etfects would 

 result from a total annihilation. It would be folly for me to at- 

 tempt to estimate the value of forests to any country for it is be- 

 v<jnd the comprehension of the human mind. The rain and dew 

 that refresh and support vegetation, the rivers and rivulets that 

 pour down from the mountains and hills, often owe their very ex- 

 istence to the great forests. This view of the subject, you may say, 

 is only visionary and theoretical. Be this as it may, I would re- 

 mind you of one simple fact, and that is — all we know of trees, or 

 arc likely to know of them, has its origin in the great primeval 

 forests. It is by studying the natural distribution and character- 

 istic of the different species that enables us to cultivate them suc- 

 cessfully. 



Heavy Soil for Oak. — We learn from nature that certain spe- 

 cies of oak flourish far better upon a heavy, moist soil than in one 

 of an opposite character ; and the same is true of almost every' 

 other genus. The chestnut prefers the old red sandstone regions, 

 and avoids the limestone, while the reverse is true with the hard 

 maple and beech. The elm and soft maple grow more luxuriantly 

 in the low alluvial soils near our rivers than elsewhere. By fur- 

 ther investigation we find that the quality of the wood is greatly 

 •ntlnenced by the soil upon which it is grown. For instance, 

 aickory that grows upon a sandy soil is far more brittle and less 

 valuable than when grown upon a rich, deep clay; but just the 

 oi)posite of this is true in regard to the common locust. 



GuowiNQ Trees from Seeds. — We also learn from nature some 

 of our most practical lessons in regard to the growing of trees 

 from seeds. A few spocies ripen their seeds early in the season, 

 and these must be planted very soon thereafter, as they will 

 seldom remain sound until the following spring. This is particu- 

 larly the case with the elm. Swamp and silver maple, or their 

 seeds, ripen about the first of June; but the sugar and negundo 

 maple do not perfect their seeds until autumn, consequently they 

 may be sown at that time, or preserved in any moist, cool place 

 until spring. The dilTerent species of foreign maples, such as j 

 Norway, English, and sycamore, ripen their seeds about the^ 

 same time as our sugar maple, and maybe treated in the same| 

 manner. Chestnut, oak, hickory, beech, black walnut, butternut,! 

 etc., all ripen their seeds in autumn; and I believe it is the bestj 

 plan to sow them soon after being gathered, unless it be in sec- 

 lions of the country where the land is liable to be frequently frf>2ei]| 



