FOREST TREES. 103 



four hundred and nincty-onc thousand eight hundred and twelve 

 acres. 01' this, according to the returns made about ten years 

 since, from which we copy, there were seven hundred and 

 twenty-nine thousand seven hundred and ninety-two acres of 

 woodlands. Besides this there were reported nine hundred 

 and ninety-five thousand acres of unimproved lands, and three 

 hundred and sixty thousand of unimprovable; in all, two 

 million forty-four thousand seven hundred and ninety-two acres, 

 or nearly one-half of the entire area of the State not under 

 improvement — a remarkable fact, it would seem, in one of the 

 oldest and most densely-populated States in the Union. 



It is deemed fair to state that a large share of this unim- 

 proved and what is denominated unimprovable land may be 

 rendered productive by planting suitable seeds of native trees. 

 The number of species of native timber-trees in Massachusetts 

 is greater than that of any kingdom in Europe. Of the oak 

 species there are nine, of hickories four, birches five, maples 

 three, ashes three, pines three, walnuts two, elms two, spruces 

 two, cedars two ; besides the beech, chestnut, hornbeam, lever 

 wood, tupclo, nettle tree, tulip, plane, bass, locust, hemlock 

 fir, hackmatack, cherry, holly, poplars, willows, and numerous 

 smaller trees. In addition to these, there are many of the 

 species of Europe that will grow here, besides others in the 

 Middle and Western States. In view of this great number of 

 timber aud wood-producing species, nearly every kind of unim- 

 proved, including much of what is denominated unimprovable, 

 lands can be rendered productive of wood and timber. 



The quantity of wood and timber, owing to the great de- 

 mand, is annually growing less and less in this State, and con- 

 sequently timber and wood, and the lands producing them, 

 becoming more and more valuable. Hence a reason for forest- 

 planting and culture. There are many acres of unproductive 

 lands of diiFercnt kinds in western Massachusetts that might 

 in this way be made productive and valuable. In view of the 

 facts that the demand for wood and timber is annually increas- 

 ing, and prices advancing, and of there being so much unpro- 

 ductive land in the State, it is proposed to present considera- 

 tions which, if heeded, will convert the hundred s of thousands 

 of acres of unimproved and non-productive lands of the State 



