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fey ah act of the Icgishtnre, passed on the "SOth of Fohruary. 

 4818, *'for the encouragement of agriculture and manufac- 

 tures," it is made the "duty of every incorporated agricultu- 

 ral society, to offer, annually, such premiums and encourage- 

 fiient, for the raising and preserving oaks and other forest trees, 

 in such manner, and on such terms, as to their discretion shall 

 seem hest adapted to increase and perpetuate an adequate sup- 

 ply of ship timber, within this Commonwealth." 



In compliance with this requisition, the premiums for raising' 

 oaks and other forest trees are -offered. Small plantations only 

 are proposed, because the subject, in America, is perfectly 

 new ; although in Europe the practice of planting (the term 

 appropriated in England to the raising of forest trees) has long 

 been familiar. There the seeds are sown in beds, (like seeds 

 in gardens) thence removed to nurseries, and froni the nurs6r 

 vies to the grounds where they are to rise into trees. The 

 emolument to be derived from plantings for the production of 

 timber, is at such a distance, probably beyond the life of the 

 planter, as to deter most men from making the attempt : for 

 few^ very few, are actuated by the generous principle, that 

 '"• It will do somebody good." Yet, as men generally wish to 

 acquire and leave property for their offspring, it may be ques- 

 tioned whether in any district, so bare of timber as Esso^, 

 farmers could better consult the permanent interests of thei^- 

 children, than by planting. Grounds so rough and rocky as ta 

 be unfit for tillage can in no way be so profitablj^ improved. 

 Nor, indeed, is some profit from planting very remote. That 

 forest trees may rise straight, and to heights proper for titnber, 

 *hey must be set, at first, matiy times as thick as will finally fit 

 ihem for timber. Hence their thinnings will, in a few years, 

 furnish useful wood ; white Oaks-^ hickories, ash, and perhaps 

 ihe larch, for hoops, apd all of them, at larger growths, for 

 fuel. 



These hints are thrown out to excite Reflection on this very 

 important subject ; and to induce at least the ablest farmers to 

 •omaieBce the work o{ planting. The Trustees hope there 

 ^vjll be many competitors for the offered premiums. Any who 

 ihall propose t© make plantations, will, on their applicat-ioo. be 

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