HOW TO ASSIST NATURE 29 



allowed to take her way, in the course of time she will reclaim 

 the forest as her own. The accompanying photographs show 

 her gradual reclaiming processes. A drive or stroll through 

 almost any section of New England will give one plenty of 

 these object lessons. No wonder that New England has a 

 charm for every one ; we find here a climate, soil, and general 

 environment for plant growth that with all of our depleting 

 methods of agriculture we cannot destroy. Were we to leave 

 this country for a century or so to itself, nature would reclothe 

 herself from the mountains and Canadian line to the sea in 

 one vast forest. 



HOW TO ASSIST NATURE 



While we realize nature's methods are good and under some 

 circumstances are all that are needed, in others man can come 

 to her assistance and secure results in a comparatively short 

 time. 



Just how we can render this assistance will depend upon 

 many conditions. Under this head comes the entire question 

 of forest culture and management. Few people become good 

 farmers until they have solved the questions of what crops are 

 best adapted to the soils they are working, and which crops 

 bring the best results for feeding. We grow corn for silage or 

 the grain ; potatoes, apples, etc., for the market. In short, we 

 plant and select our crops with a definite aim constantly in 

 view. Forestry farming needs husbanding and forethought in 

 just the same way. The time is now ripe for it. The Experi- 

 ment Station has already published a bulletin, No. 95, " How 

 to Grow a Forest from Seed," which is free for distribution to 

 every one. It was written with the idea of helping to make 

 a beginning in forestry. 



Getting forest growth started means the bringing back of 

 these unproductive and non-agricultural lands into a productive 

 condition. There has been much agitation in the state legis- 

 lature regarding this matter but legislation lags because com- 

 mon sentiment is not sufficiently aroused. We all desire that 

 our towns and counties should increase in value that we may 

 have better schools, churches, roads, etc. ; in order to do this 

 valuations must exist from which taxes are derived. If our local 



