RECLAIMING LAND. 127 



Farmers' Clubs and Village Improvement Societies are 

 the means of accomplishing more real good in these and 

 other directions for their members than is generally done. 



Much moist land is, however, not owned jointly with 

 others, and where the work can be done with no chance of 

 obstacles to a successful result. 



If the low lands are to receive such attention and be 

 proved a source of increased profit, what shall become of 

 those uplands which have less attraction for cultivation? Let 

 them be planted with valuable trees. 



The plantations of Middleborough and vicinity are proof 

 of the profit that can come from planting trees judiciously 

 upon the poorer quality of land. It was my pleasure to 

 view those plantations of white pine which have succeeded 

 so well, and they are in themselves sufficient evidence of 

 success. 



The visit was made in company with two gentlemen, than 

 whom there is no better authority on forest growth. 



In making plantations, practical experience in setting out 

 a considerable number of trees leads me to speak most forci- 

 bly against setting out any but the smaller sizes in new 

 plantations ; and that is a far better rule to follow for all 

 planting. 



Trees have been set out on my own farm of sizes from 

 one foot to ten feet high, of both evergreen and deciduous 

 species, in permanent places ; and the smaller trees, being 

 less affected by the winds, sooner secure a permanent and 

 thrifty hold on the soil with their roots in their new position. 



In setting out plantations, the young trees must be set 

 reasonably near each other, so that they shall aflford mutual 

 protection. 



This applies whether the trees are eventually for orna- 

 mental purposes or for forest growth. In the former case 

 the position of the trees as they are ultimately desired must 

 first be established, and then the intervening space should 

 be filled in with good hardy trees which shall be cut down 

 as the permanent ones approach them. 



The plantations of the late Mr. Fay of Essex County 

 included such a plantation of ornamental trees of varied 

 kinds, and had he been spared a dozen years longer, he 



