HOMGEOPATHY IN AGRICULTUEE. 217 



year and the next two the next year, and you will trim the 

 trees so gradually that they will not suffer at all, and by the 

 time the plantation is twelve or fourteen years old it will be 

 trimmed up, perhaps, as high as 3'ou could wish. It would 

 reduce the risk by fire to a minimum ; the ground would be 

 clear underneath the trees and fire would not be easily com- 

 municated. 



Mr. Root. There are in many locations large groves of 

 very thrifty pines which have been growing for ten, fifteen 

 or twenty years, and the smaller trees dying out. Every 

 pine tree running up tall and fast has more or less dead 

 limbs. One of the most successful foresters with whom I 

 have been acquainted of late years was with me in a forest 

 of mine, and alluded to that condition of the trees. Says 

 he, " When it comes cold weather take your man and a long 

 pole with an iron hook on the end of it, and go through and 

 break oflT all those withered limbs ; then all the aftersrrowth 

 will be clear lumber ; whereas, if you leave a little projecting 

 limb, it remains there for years, and all the accumulated 

 growth of subsequent years will encircle that little projec- 

 tion, until it runs almost through the body of the tree. 

 Break it off; nature heals it over, and from that point of the 

 circumference you have clear lumber." That is a point well 

 worthy the attention of every man who owns a forest, in my 

 judgment. 



Mr. Fitch. There was one point which came up this 

 morning which I want two minutes to speak of, with regard 

 to reclaiming lands. Everything which has been said since 

 I came here has been said by those who have had practical 

 experience, and I will state mine. " Some years ago I was 

 obliged to use a good many barrels, and I found that I must 

 have round hickory hoops. I found there were very few 

 portions of the country where I could get them in any large 

 quantity, and I also found that I must pay ten or fifteen dol- 

 lars a thousand for them. Now, I dare say there are some 

 men in this room who have on their farms a piece of land 

 with stones on the sides and which is wet at the bottom. If 

 any of you have such a piece of land, lay aside so many 

 bushels of hickory-nuts or pig-nuts, and early in the spring 

 put them half an inch under ground in this place, plantino; 



