66 



4. As adding to the beauty of a country, the forests are of the 

 utmost importance. A country destitute of them cannot be in the 

 highest degree beautiful. 



5. In a country so much exposed as ours is, in consequence 

 of the remarkable clearness of the atmosphere, to the burning heat 

 of the sun, the use of trees for shade is not one of the least impor- 

 tant A tree which furnishes a cool shade to the inhabi- 

 tants of a house is, at the same time and on that account, its best 

 ornament Trees should be planted not only by dwel- 

 ling-houses and along roads ; they should be in every pasture 

 and by watering places, and near every barn — wherever cattle, 

 horses or sheep are to be provided for. All these animals suffer 

 from the burning sun ; and to say nothing of their enjoyment, 

 the cost of shade trees will be many times paid back in the saving 

 of the milk, fat, fleece, and strength which will be the conse- 

 quence of their being protected from the heat of the sun. 



6. The importance of the forests as furnishing materials for 

 shipbuilding, housebuilding, and numerous other arts, is so obvi- 

 ous that it must occur to every one ; and yet there is danger that, 

 in many places, from false views of immediate economy, no pro- 

 vision will be made for the wants of future generations. It is not 

 easy to estimate the pecuniary value of the wood used in house- 

 building. A vast deal of this is continually going on ; the aspect 

 of the State is annually improving by the erection of large, better 

 finished and more commodious houses, barns and out-houses. 

 And almost all the materials have been, hitherto, except for the 

 seaport towns, furnished by our own woods. But no returns of 

 these improvements are published. The thousands of tons of tim- 

 ber, boards, clapboards and shingles, are not put on record. It 

 is manifest, however, that the difference against us would be great, 



if we had to look elsewhere for our materials The effects 



of the wasteful destruction of the forest trees are already visible. 



piized ; and in instances where fields are taken by the season, for the pur- 

 pose of fattening cattle, those most sheltered never fail to bring the highest 



rents Dr. Deane has observed, he continues, pasture lands 



should be well fenced in small lots, and these lots should be 



bordered, at least, with rows of trees. It is best that trees of some kind or 

 other should be growing, scattered in every point of the pasture, so that 

 cattle may never have far to go, in a hot hour, to obtain a comfortable 

 shade." 



