222 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Cutter argues in this way, in defence of the course he has 

 pursued. Trees spring up vastly thicker than they can mature ; 

 that a large proportion of them must fail before reaching a size 

 suitable for timber, or for market-wood even ; that it is better to 

 cut away a portion as they begin to fail, and let those remaining 

 have the full strength of the soil, with what nourishment they 

 can get from the decaying roots and branches of trees removed, 

 in addition to the advantages derived from a better exposition to 

 the genial and vitalizing influences of sun and air. The argu- 

 ment is, in our judgment, sound in all respects, and forcible in 

 proportion to the market value of fuel in the vicinity. 



One piece of land was a pasture forty-four years ago, at 

 which time we remember to have seen the bushes cut with an 

 old-fashioned bush-scythe for the last time. AVhite or gray bircli 

 and white pines soon took possession, in about equal quantities, 

 and were permitted to grow unmolested for twenty years, when 

 the birches were found to be tumbling down from a chronic 

 weakness in the trunks, quite extensively prevailing, owing to 

 the crowded condition of the trees. The birch was all cleared 

 off, together with such of the other trees as appeared to be past 

 recovery, making a fair crop of wood. 



Twelve years' subsequently, the weaker among the growth of 

 pines were cut, and the wood marketed — say twelve cords to the 

 acre — besides the refuse wood which was used at home. Recently, 

 more trees, which had ceased to grow, have been taken out, so 

 that since the period first named two crops of wood have been 

 harvested, and there is now about one hundred and fifty good 

 trees for lumber remaining, besides some of smaller dimensions, 

 on an acre, in fine, thrifty condition. 



The writer, twenty-five years ago, came in possession of a 

 beautiful lot of saplings, on soil of sufficient strength to carry a 

 growth of heavy timber. Amongst the black and gray birch, 

 white maple, white pine, were many nice appearing seedling 

 white oaks, about the size which would naturally be selected for 

 transplanting. Some were taken up and disposed of in that 

 way, which would not then have been done had we known the 

 degree of uncertainty of success in planting white oaks, which 

 experience has taught us. Full seventy-five per cent, of all our 

 planting have failed the first year. A half acre of said trees 

 were carefully trimmed with shears and knife. For a few years 



