PLOUGHINa. 121 



But all these lands will not be wanted in this generation for 

 railroad purposes ; they must be put to other uses, and if the 

 nominal owners will not improve them, as good citizens they 

 are bound to resign their title to those that will. Fuel and 

 timber are not the sole considerations that should have an influ- 

 ence. Plantations of trees afford shelter and protection to 

 the adjacent cultivated fields, rescue from sterility extensive 

 tracts, and clothe with verdure that which was before unsightly 

 and desolate. Facts are not wanting, that show conclusively, 

 that forests are of public utility. Thirty years ago, if one 

 acre, near White's Brook, had been planted with pines, it would 

 have saved the town of Yarmouth five hundred dollars, and 

 individuals a like sum, contributed to stop the blowing sand, 

 which threatened to cover with desolation all the eastern part 

 of the town. 



The peninsular of Provincetown, was originally, says Gos- 

 nold, covered with a forest and " a soil one spade deep." 

 What fires, wantonly or carelessly set, have not destroyed, the 

 axe has cut down, and the loose soil has blown away, or been 

 covered with huge drifts of beach sand. Thousands of dol- 

 lars have been expended by the United States to fix those 

 drifting sands, and thousands more will have to be, before it is 

 accomplished. In like manner, the central part of Wellflcet 

 was made a desolate waste, and the same causes are now in 

 operation at South Dennis and Harwich, and if not counter- 

 acted, will produce like results. 



Amos Otis, Chairman. 



PLOUGHING. 



WORCESTER. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The history of the past goes plainly to show the plough to 

 be the corner-stone of education. The most diminutive mind 

 can instinctively perceive it to be the mighty instrument which 

 paves the road to wealth, literature, and morality. 

 16* 



