THE 
FOREST TREE CULTURIST. 
CHAPTER <3. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Every civilized nation feels more or less the need of an 
abundant supply of forest trees. Whether needed for 
timber to be used in the erection of houses, or in building 
ships, or for the more common but none the less important 
purpose of fuel, there is nothing that contributes more 
to the development of all the sources of national wealth 
and prosperity. America has felt this need the least ; but 
the day is coming, if not already here, when her people 
will look back with regret to the time when forests were 
wantonly destroyed. 
It is true there have been many cases where it was neces- 
sary to clear off the forest that the land might be culti- 
vated and furnish the food necessary for the early settler; 
but it is well known that thousands of acres of valuable 
timber have been removed from land unfit for cultivation, 
the return from which would scarcely support the laborers 
who were employed in cutting and drawing it to the near- 
est market, or converting it into charcoal and ashes. 
The land from which these forests were taken. is now a 
silent waste, wlien, if the trees had remained upon it to 
