63 



FOREST TREES. 



This subject having been committed by the government to another 

 department, has been no farther matter of inquiry with me, than as 

 connected with a supply of fuel, a matter essentially affecting the 

 value of land and the interests of the farmers. Facts, which have 

 been stated to me on respectable authority, I have carefully noted. 



1. A gentleman in Andover states, that in making the Rail-road, 

 it became necessary to cut away some wood. Two pieces were 

 cleared, containing 4 square rods each ; and on measuring the wood, 

 the product would be equal to 60 cords to the acre. This was of 

 pitch pine, yellow pine, or Norway pine ; and was the growth of 25 

 years. It was worth $5 per cord, delivered. 



2. Another piece of land was mentioned by the same person as 

 having been cut, being the growth of twenty-five years, and yielding 

 60 cords to the acre. This likewise was of pitch pine. 



3. Another lot of land containing 1^ acre, produced 36 cords. 

 This was of mixed growth, oak and pine ; and two-thirds of this pro- 

 duct was considered the growth of twenty years. 



4. A farmer in Saugus states, that in oak wood, which is 13 or 14 

 inches in diameter, may usually be counted forty rings, indicating the 

 years of its age. 



5. It is the opinion of an experienced farmer in Manchester, that 

 he can cut his wood-lot to advantage once in twenty years. 



6. I was shown a wood lot in Wenham, from which the growth 

 of oak timber was entirely cut off in 1816. It is now in pine and 

 judged to yield 25 cords to the acre. The wood was not closely 

 set. The growth is white pine, and many of the trees are more than 

 one foot in diameter. The growth of white pine will, in his judg- 

 ment, pay the interest of more than one hundred dollars per acre ; in 

 this case, of more than two hundred dollars per acre. The value of 

 pine is here from five to six dollars per cord. 



7. A farmer in Lynnfield showed me a wood lot formerly pine, 

 now oak and mixed, fully averaging 30 cords to the acre, of twenty- 

 nine years growth. Fifty acres of wood now growing, he believes 



