388 



farmer ; and the man who can wantonly destroy the life of one 

 of these beautiful creatures can hardly with safety be trusted 

 with a child. 



The crows who come into the field when the corn is 

 just coming out of the ground, destroy the only means of sup- 

 ply, and strangle all the hopes of the husbandman in their birth, 

 are not entitled to the same indulgence. If any offence should 

 be made capital, this would seem to be one. O. M. Whipple, 

 however, of Lowell, suggests a protection, which is effectual 

 and harmless. 



'' A quart of corn soaked in strong saltpetre liquor, and sown 

 upon the surface of an acre of ground at the time the corn is 

 coming out of the ground, or at the time the crows commence 

 pulling it up, will serve as a sure protection against their inter- 

 fering at all with the corn. I have practised it for fifteen years 

 without ever knowing a hill of corn being touched after the 

 corn was sowed upon the field." 



XV. Forest Trees. — The principal growth of the county 

 is white and yellow oak, pine both white and yellow, hickory, 

 soft-maple and white birch. Very little if any wood is stand- 

 ing, which is not comparatively recent. The original forests 

 have long since disappeared. The value of wood in the coun- 

 ty as fuel makes its increase and preservation of great import- 

 ance ; and I shall merely recur to such facts having a bearing 

 upon this subject as have come within my knowledge. 



Edmund Parker, of Reading, in whose statements entire 

 confidence may be placed, says that he had occasion to sell 

 40 acres of woodland in Wilmington, on which the wood was 

 of only 20 years' growth. The wood on one half acre of this 

 land was cut and measured, and produced 36 cords, 5 feet of 

 white and yellow (or pitch) pine. This was at the rate of 73 

 cords 2 feet to the acre. The whole lot averaged more than 

 40 cords to the acre. The pitch-pine had ceased its growth ; 

 the white was still growing when cut. The soil was sandy J 

 and, it is evident, peculiarly favorable to the growth of thi^ 

 kind of wood. 



