SECRETARY'S REPORT. 145 



fere quite too much with private liberty to render their renewal 

 desirable, so far as respects the land of individuals. But it is 

 certainly well worthy the consideration of the legislatures of 

 many of our States, whether effectual measures should not he 

 taken for the preservation, and perhaps the propagation, of 

 valuable timber on the public lands within their jurisdiction. 



The fame of the white pine has long since extended to Eu- 

 rope, principally by means of the stocks which have been 

 exported to England to supply in part her immense demand 

 for masts and spars. 



The living tree has also been introduced into that country, 

 but is not highly appreciated, and we have found no English 

 writer who does it full justice. The truth is, however, that the 

 climate of England is not fitted to its development. The limits 

 within which it flourishes in this country are the 43d and 47th 

 degrees of latitude. Now, no part of the Island of Great Brit- 

 ain has a climate which answers to that of this region. The 

 northern extremity of Scotland, which lies in about the 58th or 

 59th degree of latitude, is visited with winters far less rigor- 

 ous than the great majority of our own. Besides, there are 

 few situations in Great Britain which furnish the soil in which 

 this tree chiefly delights. The most magnificent specimens of 

 the white pine in this country are found in the depths of our 

 forests, in a virgin soil, covered with the accumulated mould of 

 centuries, and above all on the banks of rivers, or in the beds 

 of large cedar swamps. 



In pleasure grounds it seldom rises to its greatest height, or 

 at least requires a longer time to do so than has yet been al- 

 lowed in any instance within my knowledge. It grows, however, 

 with considerable rapidity, and soon acquires a loftiness and 

 bulk equal to that of most cultivated trees ; and its highly- 

 polished bark, and light, silvery foliage, render it, from the time 

 it springs from the soil, a desirable accession to every shrub- 

 bery. 



The next of our principal forest trees which I shall no- 

 tice is the white oak. The general appearance of oaks is more 

 familiar to us of this region than that of any other class of 

 forest trees except the elm and the plane tree. The oak is 

 far less lofty than the pine, and has no pretensions to the 



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