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ment from the atmosphere. In dying, they leave behind lliera a thin 

 layer of soil, in which other lichens of a more succulent nature, and 

 mosses, take root. Herbaceous plants will succeed these ; and in pro- 

 cess of time trees will follow, and clothe these barren wastes with 

 wood ; and as their successive deposits continue to form and enrich the 

 soil, the wood will be continually growing better. 



The next great value of forests is for fuel. This is a matter of vast 

 importance. Here the value of trees cannot be over-estimated. The 

 population of Massachusetts is 718,000. A family in England has been 

 estimated to average 4 persons and 7-lOths. In Massachusetts, families 

 are larger ; we marry younger and rear more children ; and here a 

 family may be considered as averaging six, perhaps seven persons. 

 The prices of wood vary much in different parts of the State. In some 

 parts of the State it is worth two dollars, and in Boston seven or eight 

 dollars. The average price may be set down, as nearly as can be cal- 

 culated, three dollars and eighty-thi'ee cents. Suppose it to be three 

 dollars and a half. Mr. E. had received estimates from all parts of the 

 State, which varied from four or five to thirty or forty cords for a fam- 

 ily. A fair estimate would give thirteen or fourteen cords on an aver- 

 age to a family. But call it only twelve. These at $3 50 per cord, 

 will give $42 as an average for the expense of the fuel for each family. 

 Calling seven individuals one family, and we have more than 100,000 

 families in the Stale, and the annual cost of their fuel over $4,200,000. 

 If we count six persons a family, the expense will exceed- $5,000,000. 

 Ail this is or might be furnished by the forests of Massachusetts. How 

 valuable, then, are our forests, and how important it is to know the best 

 means of managing them, and the proper time of cutting them — thb 

 most important trees to cultivate, and what should be eradicated. There 

 is a great choice of valuable materials for fuel. The hickories are 

 among the best, and perhaps, on the whole, preferable to any other 

 trees for this purpose. The maples rank next. These woods are as 

 valuable for charcoal as for wood. That which is best for wood is best 

 for charcoal. The woods which contain the largest amount of carbon 

 will produce the largest amount of heat. The hickories produce the 

 most carbon, and are therefore the most valuable as fuel. 



The next value of forests is in the timber which they furnish for 

 ship-building, for joiners' work, for house-building, and various other 

 purposes. Vast sums might have been saved to the country by cultivat- 

 ing oaks. The English oaks grow here as readily as any where, as 



