358 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the attention, if lie depends, as it is expected he will, on his 

 Indian corn, his grass and root crops, with other field produce, 

 for his living and business. He cannot afford " to serve" two 

 " such masters ;" one or the other must receive his chief service. 

 All this reasoning does not apply to arboriculture ; and a well- 

 regulated farm, now-a-days, seems to look toward the artificial 

 rearing of forest trees, as well as toward their protection for the 

 future increase of its value. In some sections of Massachusetts, 

 forest tree planting, I am sure, would be very important ; and in 

 every instance there are valuable species of such trees, which 

 could be readily introduced without any great outlay of cost or 

 trouble. 



Then, again, our State, indeed all New England, may be con- 

 sidered as peculiarly fortunate in the general adaptedness of 

 climate to the growth of forest trees. Some of the finest kinds, 

 native to Europe, stand our winters perfectly, and grow with 

 vigor. But where circumstances or want of availabilities incline 

 any one against the raising of foreign species, the immediate 

 vicinity may afford sufficient variety. It is my intention to 

 specify some such as could be rendered both ornamental and 

 useful to the most ordinary farming purposes and to the most 

 varied soils. 



Massachusetts farms may be divided into four or five great 

 divisions of the soils found upon them. These may be thus 

 stated, viz. : — 



1st. Light, sandy soils. 



2d. Gravelly or thin soils. 



3d. Rocky soils, much broken by ledges. 



4th. Boggy or peat meadow soils. 



5th. Stiff, clayey, loamy soils. 



On these different soils particular kinds of forest trees thrive 

 best. Observation can easily point out ways for using all these 

 to the best advantage for artificial plantings. Often what were 

 once timber or woodlands have become, l)y accident or misman- 

 agement, sterile and unproductive ; and for sucli places this 

 planting of trees might be prudent as well as wise. It is no 

 uncommon thing to find on the same farm acres of "good for 

 nothing" land, but still capable of becoming good for something. 

 A little extra attention to these may turn them to some valuable 

 account. 



