42 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



P. S. I had intended to furnish some rules to be observed in 

 making oak plantations, but they are so conflicting, as laid down 

 by different planters, that I have concluded it will be best for 

 every one to follow out their own ideas upon the subject, refer- 

 ring them, however, to Emerson on Trees, Shrubs, &c, for some 

 rules extracted from Loudon's great work. I cannot help cau- 

 tioning against planting the acorn too deep : an inch in depth is 

 enough for any of our native acorns. 



R. S. F. 



To B. T. Reed, Esq. 



Boston, Nov. 6th, 1847. 



Dear Sir : — It gives me great pleasure to learn, from your 

 favor of the third, that an interest has begun to be felt in the 

 cultivation of the best of our forest trees. Mr. Fay is taking the 

 right course to foster and stimulate a taste for cultivation. Many 

 persons would be glad to attempt cultivation, if they could afford 

 the expense ; and the prospect of gaining the premium, will be 

 sufficient to induce them to make the attempt. He has also, I 

 think wisely, proposed the premiums in terms so general, as to 

 leave the shaping the particular conditions to practical agricul- 

 turists. 



I am sorry that my want of experience in agriculture will pre- 

 vent me from giving any suggestions of practical value. 



There are two distinct objects to be regarded in the cultivation 

 of forest trees, — their pecuniary value as fuel and timber, and 

 their use as ornaments, screens and shades. The cultivation, in 

 the two cases, must be quite different ; yet I suppose the first 

 steps must in all cases be the same. In our hard and barren 

 soil, the land on which the seed was sown, or the young trees 

 planted, must, for many years, be cultivated while the plants 

 are growing, in order that they may make any show at all, even 

 in twenty years. They will doubtless grow without cultiva- 

 tion, but very slowly. If an open pasture or newly cleared land 

 should be taken, the process must be very different in the two 



