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large proportion to cleared land and waste land. Figures 

 cannot definitely represent this proportion, but it is safe to 

 call it large in favor of the wood and sprout land, not only 

 because such is natural, but becauHc it is the source of 

 water supplies and has great effect in preventing injurious 

 extremes of climatic influence. 



In the country districts, where the density of population 

 is least, the public health is as dependent upon the w^ood- 

 land for beneficial climatic influence as the cities, where the 

 density of population is greatest. But should the wood 

 lands not be protected against injurious influences, and 

 should they deteriorate or be allowed to lessen in extent, 

 that more thickly settled portion of the State would feel the 

 ill effects first. 



There are large quantities of woodlands throughout New 

 England about which it is best for the assessors that the 

 owners do not attempt to work up a sum in arithmetic to 

 prove their value ; for such values would be, in many cases 

 too low to bear the burden, even of the smallest tax. 



Consider the many uninsurable risks from fire, ooming 

 from carelessness, or because no one has yet invented a 

 spark-arrester for locomotives, and also regard the losses 

 from insects which are far larger, often, than is generally 

 supposed ; consider again the taxes that are assessed, also 

 the low market prices for cord-wood, or wood on the stump, 

 and what has the owner to show, after he has cut off a wood 

 lot, as an average yearly rate of interest on his property for 

 the number of years that his wood has been growing ? 

 Supposing, I may add, that his lot has not been burned over, 

 and that he has had no unusual ravages from borers of 

 other insects. 



Not only, therefore, have we to consider how we can best 

 preserve our woodland in a healthy condition, but it be- 

 comes evident that to do so, the individual owner in many 

 cases needs protection. 



