11 a FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



Where, therefore, the ancient forests are becoming more 

 thined, it will be found good husbandry to supply the deft- 

 ciency, thus made, by the introduction of other growths; 

 such as the locust, and Lombard? -poplar, tor instance, on 

 the drier soils, and buttonwood, willow, &c. &c. on those 

 which are low and wet. 



See further, FORESTS. 



In husbanding any forest, or growth of trees, several 

 things are to be observed. In the first place, the young 

 trees, which are subject to be injured by cattle, should be 

 protected. No cattle should be suffered to run in grounds 

 covered with such growth ; the cattle can acquire little or 

 no food, but what is gained at the expense ot the young 

 trees j and, what is gained in this way, is greatly counter- 

 balanced by the injury thus done to them. 



In the next place, when trees are to be cut down for 

 fuel, those should be selected for the purpose which are 

 the least productive, or that grow the least in a year: And 

 this point is to be ascertained, as well by the general 

 appearance of the trees, whether they be healthy and 

 sound, or otherwise, as by observing the yearly shoots of 

 every tree ; as the limbs of those which grow, the fastest 

 shoot the greatest length every year. 



In thining the trees, some regard should also be had to 

 their standing, as nearly equi-distant as is compatible with 

 the circumstances just mentioned. In natural forests, too, 

 those sorts of trees which naturally grow faster, than others 

 of different kinds, should be left standing ; provided they 

 are thrifty, and of a kind that is valuable for fuel. 



In felling the trees, they should be cut off as near the 

 ground as possible, by which means less wood will be suf- 

 fered to go to waste in the stump; and the small limbs 

 should all be carried home, cut up, and laid under the 

 woodhouse to dry ; as a few of these, when dried, will often 

 answer as well to boil a teakettle, or pot, as where larger 

 wood, in greater quantities, is used for the purpose. All 

 decayed and roting wood should also be brought home; for 

 this, when dried under the woodhouse, will answer very 

 well for fuel. 



See WOODHOUSE. 



Wood should always be dried, before it is used ; for, 

 although when dried it will not last quite so long, in burn- 

 ing, as when green ; yet one-half of the quantity, at a time, 

 will give more heat, and at the same time make a much 

 pleasanter fire. There can be no doubt that, generally 

 speaking, any given quantity of dry wood, while consuming, 

 will impart any given degree of heat, for as much as one- 

 fourth, and, with some kinds of wood, perhaps even two- 

 thirds, of the time longer, than the same quantity of green 



