58 



neglected farms in Massachusetts, then I shall have been amply 

 rewarded for what little I have done or may hereafter do in the 

 service of the cause of agriculture. 



Yours truly, 



James S. Wiggin. 



-*- 



REPORT ON FOREST TREES. 



We are surprised that, notwithstanding the liberal premiums 

 offered by this Society, and the strong inducements otherwise 

 presented to farmers, the growth of forest trees has received^so 

 little attention in Norfolk county. The cost and consumption of 

 fuel and timber is already creating serious apprehension for the 

 future, and would justify any reasonable measures to remove it. 

 True, it is said that the amount of wood land in the county is 

 greater now than it was twenty-five years ago, although the 

 quantity of merchantable wood and timber is smaller. But we 

 believe that this statement rests mainly on the fact that the value 

 of wood land has increased so much, within the given period, that 

 many acres are now suffered to remain in their natural state, 

 which otherwise would have been cleared up and devoted to til- 

 lage or pasturage, and that many pastures are now covered with 

 scattered pines, birches or other trees, where otherwise the brush- 

 wood would have been extirpated. On the slightest survey of the 

 county, one is struck with the great number of acres to be seen 

 where the soil is light, capable of affording only the scantiest 

 herbage, — often covered with moss, — or yielding occasionally a 

 meagre crop of rye or corn, — scantily repaying its cost, which 

 might be covered with beautiful and productive forests, and thus 

 add, every way, to the attractiveness and value of the homestead. 

 But while few systematic attempts have been made, within our 

 knowledge, to cultivate forest trees on any extensive scale, we 

 are happy to notice the instances of successful endeavor, in this 

 direction, to which our attention has been called ; and we cannot 



