94 RAISING ROOTS. 



of going into the midst of a lot and singling out the 

 oldest trees for fuel was very general. 



A forest thus thinned would not afford, half the wood 

 in a century that you may obtain from one managed in 

 a different mode. By cutting off the large trees only, 

 we not only destroy much underwood, but we leave no 

 stumps that may send up sprouts for another cutting. 

 And by leaving one fourth of a thick lot standing, we 

 effectually prevent the shooting up of a new progeny. 

 For wood merely, lots may be cut once in fifteen or 

 twenty years ; that is, if they have grown from stumps 

 not more than twenty years old ; and ten acres of good 

 wood-land, Avith one fourth of an acre of good peat- 

 land, are abundantly sufficient to supply the fuel of 

 any private family in Massachusetts. 



Cut off half an acre clear each winter, and by the 

 time you have gone through your I'ot you may begin 

 again ; and here is a rotation of crops as durable as the 

 rotation of the seasons. You may generally obtain, 

 from good land, ten to fifteen cords on the acre, and 

 one square rod of peat will give you four cords of fuel 

 that will answer for back-logs and for mixing with 

 lighter inflammable matter, that will not preserve your 

 fire through the night with half the certainty of a log 

 of peat. 



RAISING ROOTS. 



The cultivation of roots is becoming a very impor- 

 tant branch of husbandry among the farmers of the 

 New England States. It is now rendered certain that, 

 with good cultivation, five or six hundred bushels of 

 ruia baga can be raised to the acre at a cost not ex- 

 ceeding four or five cents per bushel. The value of 



