DECEMBER. 565 



tionally raised, since the benefit which the whole surface of 

 the country receives from the sun must be proportional to 

 the area which is advantageously exposed to its rays. All 

 my forest should be left on the summits of the steep and rug- 

 ged elevations, and on the northern declivities — because the 

 latter are least valuable for tillage, and because the forest 

 would check the dissipation of heat from the surface ; but ' 

 the southern declivities should be left open to receive the in- 

 fluence of the sun's heat. 



In spite of the awkward appearance of a northern boundary 

 of wood near one's dwelling-house, it seems to be almost in- 

 dispensable in a climate like our own, which, more than any 

 other, admits of such improvements. If my house were pro- 

 tected only by a wood, I should plant a close thicket of un- 

 dergrowth outside of the belt, to prevent the winds from 

 sweeping under the trees. In that case, the members of the 

 family might walk with comfort in the grove, which would 

 freely admit the beams of the sun to enter on the south side. 



It is hard to determine whether the northeast or the north- 

 west wind, in this part of the country, produces the most 

 discomfort. None will deny that the northwest is the coldest 

 winter wind, but in spring the northeast wind is more un- 

 comfortable than the other in winter. In the New England 

 States, no house is well protected which is not guarded 

 against both of these Avinds. It is wise to furnish all coun- 

 try-houses with such safeguards, when the space will admit 

 of it, not only for the comfort of the inmates of the house, 

 but also for the good condition of one's cattle and flocks. 

 All animals in cold weather require additional food, to supply 

 their systems with fuel for the production of animal heat, as 

 well as for sustenance. Hence, if they are well protected 

 from the cold, they must require less of this fuel to preserve 

 their vital warmth. Good economy, therefore, as well as a 

 regard for our own comfort, would advise the adoption of all 

 such available means of protection from the cold, and of se- 

 curing the benefit of the solar heat. 



A great deal might also be said of the utility of such pro- 

 tection for farming and gardening operations ; but this point 



