114 ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and it is this : — We are told, that it is a species of improvement 

 from which we, ourselves, cannot hope to reap the benefit, since 

 our lives are too short to witness the maturity of trees of our 

 own planting. This is a weak and selfish objection, at the best, 

 and it is false, too, in its premises. The first Duke, John of 

 Athol, for example, saw a British frigate, built entirely of Larch 

 of his own planting. It will be seen, moreover, if we will ex- 

 amine a little into the subject, that the benefits commence at 

 once, in the increased value given to the land planted. In 

 another point of view, as a provision for our children, how im- 

 portant planting becomes. There is no surer way of making a 

 provision for one's children, than by planting timber trees. The 

 advantage of restoring portions of our worn-out lands to wood, 

 are also most important to New England welfare. We are. 

 every year, developing more highly the mechanical arts, and. 

 in their progress, wood, in various forms, and for numerous 

 purposes, is required. Our lands have been already stripped of 

 the most valuable kinds, for these purposes, and no measures 

 are being taken for a new supply. They have been pastured 

 upon, and exposed to our cold and piercing winds, until, in 

 many cases, the power of vegetation is nearly lost. Now, who 

 cannot foresee a prospect for an increased demand and value for 

 every species of wood that grows ? Do we not perceive this 

 enhancement from year to year 1 



With these premises, we now propose to urge upon every 

 farmer in the county, to take any worn-out field, huckleberry 

 pasture, or other waste land, and to convert it into a wood 

 plantation, whether of birch, larch, pines, oak, ash, or maple, 

 or all combined. And we will endeavor to give a fair statement 

 of the transaction, valuing his own time and attention at the 

 highest market price for farm labor. 



In the first place, it must be observed, that, in the estimates of 

 the cost, we assume the work to be well done, for, unless it be 

 so, it had better not be attempted. Merely putting an acorn in 

 the ground, or any number of acorns, is not forest planting. 

 They will germinate, undoubtedly, but they will remain of no 

 value after they have come up, for many years, unless some- 

 thing more is done. It would be as unwise to plant a field of 



