82 ON FOREST TREES. 



pretty well grown. This seems to be desirable ; as the growth of 

 all forest trees, for the first few years, is excessively slow, and as, 

 with the same expenditure, many times as many trees may be raised 

 in the nursery, as will be left to cover the ground in a productive for- 

 est or for ornament. 



It would seem very desirable to make experiments upon creating 

 forests in situations not susceptible of cultivation, as on the hills in 

 Lynn and in some other parts of Essex County. With this purpose, 

 the acorns may be deposited amongst the bushes, or amongst the 

 stones, slightly covered, and in quantities sufficient to allow for the 

 depredations of squirrels and mice. The principal item of expense in 

 this case, would be the fencing of the lot until the young trees should 

 have risen out of the reach of cattle and sheep. I have no doubt 

 that many acres now worth very little for pasture, and nothing for 

 any other purpose, might, in a few years, be restored to forest, to the 

 great increase of the value of the land and to the shelter and orna- 

 ment of the surrounding country. The oaks best suited to this ob- 

 ject are those of the chesnut-oak division, particularly the rock-ches- 

 nut oak, the white oak, and the black and scarlet, the beech and the 

 chesnut would grow in this way, and, still better, the birches. Pine 

 and larches might be introduced on the same ground which would have 

 the effect of protecting the oaks while young ; and, if the oak-forest 

 promise well, might, as it came on, be cut down. 



I know not that you will find these desultory suggestions of any 

 value. If they should be thought so, it will give me pleasure to have 

 contributed, however humbly, to so excellent an object. 



Respectfully yours, 



GEORGE B. EMERSON. 

 To J. W. Proctor, Esq. 



Pembroke, Dec. 2d, 1847. 

 Dear Sir : — On the subject of your inquiry, it is not in my power 

 to give so full information as may be desired. My experience in 

 the propagation of forest trees has been confined chiefly to the pine 



