WHAT TO PLANT. 55 



throughout such a wide range of latitude and 

 longitude, is becoming scarce. By this is meant 

 the finer specimens, the sound and well-ripened 

 trees which will make the best grade of timber 

 or furnish lumber fit for the uses of the carpen- 

 ter and cabinet-maker. European agents are 

 constantly searching our forests in quest of this 

 tree. 



The oak, if the king of trees, grows slowly, 

 and, though valuable for some purposes at all 

 stages of its growth, only reaches the maturity 

 of its strength and its greatest value with the 

 lapse of centuries. Oaks and beeches grow well 

 together, as the roots of the former penetrate 

 the ground deeply, while those of the latter 

 spread upon the surface. In our reckless treat- 

 ment of the forests hitherto, our best trees have 

 been destroyed for the commonest purposes, 

 sometimes only to get them out of the way. 

 Quite early in our history, fear was excited on 

 this account, lest there should soon be a scarcity 

 of the oak of a quality desirable for ship-build- 

 ing. But we have continued our reckless con- 

 sumption until some species of trees have be- 

 come well-nigh extinct, and it is only with diffi- 



