14 MR. moseley's address. 



and the land in which they are planted, must be well prepared 

 and for a long time cultivated, in order to raise trees from the 

 seed. 



In England, as in this country, the management of forest 

 trees and wood lots is left wholly to the discretion of their res- 

 pective owners, with this exception, that in England the gov- 

 ernment claim a right to certain large timber for purposes of naval 

 architecture. In France, the whole forests of the kingdom, 

 whether royal domains or private property, are under the di- 

 rection of commissioners of the forests, and no individual can 

 cut down an acre of his wood without permission of government. 

 Such is the character of the laws, and the rigid system of in- 

 spection, that it is calculated the forests of France, and the 

 supplies of wood from them, will never diminish, and that there 

 will always be sufficient for domestic consumption, for fuel as 

 well as for civil and naval architecture. Even during the rev- 

 olution, when life, property, and the dearest rights of man were 

 disregarded and involved in one general ruin, when havoc and 

 plunder sought every thing which time and habit had rendered 

 valuable, her great and extensive forests were sacredly pre- 

 served. England is abundantly supplied with mineral coal for 

 domestic purposes, and for her extensive manufactories, while 

 in France, wood is used almost exclusively. It is, there- 

 fore, highly important that she should have laws, and 

 those strictly enforced for preserving her forests and woods. — 

 Nor is it less important in our own country. I could wish all our 

 forests and wood lots under the control of commissioners like 

 those of France, although it might operate severely upon private 

 rights. But, as in many other cases, these private rights might 

 be yielded up for the public good. I would require every pub- 

 lic highway in the commonwealth to be lined, on each side, at 

 the distance of two or three rods, with the elm, button-wood, 

 maple, ash, oak, or some other forest tree. This would not on- 

 ly afford a delightful shade for the traveller, but it would produce 

 a highly valuable growth of wood. I have often felt a surprise 

 that our farmers should not more generally cultivate trees, about 

 their houses, for shade and ornament. This might be done with 



