122 MASSACnUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



We would by no means be understood as disapproving of the 

 practice of cutting wood. It is only the indiscriminate sacrifice 

 and waste of it so observable on every hand, we desire to stay. 

 We wish to impress upon every man the desirableness of this 

 kind of property ; and induce him to adopt a course of policy 

 which shall so increase the prospective supply as to admit of 

 much larger drafts upon it without diminishing its quantity. 



We would convince every landholder of the fact that he has 

 no more remunerative property than his woodlands ; none that 

 gives a better return upon the investment ; none more exempt 

 from depreciation or loss ; and none more easily convertible into 

 ready means. And it is believed the growing of wood may be 

 made even more profitable, by giving to it more care and atten- 

 tion. We think this crop should be managed somewhat as any 

 other. That portion of the farm best adapted to its growth — and 

 a part of every farm should consist of growing wood — should be 

 set off for this purpose. In this selection, regard should be had 

 to the nature of the soil, and the kinds of wood best adapted to 

 it. If not already grown thereon, it Should be planted ; and the 

 young growth properly cared for and protected. 



The policy of cutting off our wood at shorter intervals than 

 was formerly practiced is now generally regarded as wise and 

 economical. While wood thus early cut is more valuable, the 

 subsequent growth is more certain and rapid. In cutting wood, 

 regard should be had to that season of the year which experi- 

 ence has shown most favorable to the development of the suckers 

 and offsets. Whenever nature intimates a desire to change the 

 variety, as is often witnessed in the up-shooting of the pine 

 where a grove of oak has been removed, such preference should 

 be generally acquiesced in ; as in the growing of wood, as much 

 perhaps as in any other crop, rotation includes greater vigor 

 and fuller development. 



While thus laboring to render our present woodlands more 

 productive and profitable, our attention should be directed to the 

 subjcct"of enlarging their area. It is an opinion often expressed, 

 that our farmers cultivate too much land. That much labor 

 and means of fertility are lost by being too widely distributed, 

 too thinly spread ; and that a true economy points to more 

 concentration of both labor and exi)enditure. How many acres 

 of land do many of our farmers feel constrained to cultivate, to 



