PLANTING ON INLAND SAND-DRIFTS. 173 



by the two provinces for tanning purposes and for coop- 

 erage. On some of these lands agriculture is also suc- 

 cessfully practiced, but this was only feasible by intro- 

 ducing a rotation in which sylviculture plays a promi- 

 nent part. The farms are all kept in wood, and after 

 they have thus been brought into a fertile state, a part 

 of the wood is cut down, made areable and cultivated for 

 a period of from 10 to 15 years. The then exhausted 

 area is again planted with forest-trees, and after the lapse 

 of about 13 years again turned over to agriculture. So the 

 inventive genius of modern times has assisted Europe, 

 in repairing the damage done by the nefarious action of 

 improvident and avaricious people, as history shows 

 that four hundred years ago those " Landes " were cov- 

 ered with dense forests, interspersed with many flour- 

 ishing farms and villages. 



With the increasing population of our State and the 

 (alarming) decrease of the principal trees from which 

 tanning material has been hitherto derived, there should 

 the reclaiming of the many millions of barren acres, 

 both in our State and the neighboring States through 

 forest planting not longer be delayed. It is proven be- 

 yond any doubt, that tree culture even upon such 

 waste lands as are entirely unadapted to agriculture — 

 see Chapter IV., p. 158; — Chapter precedent — is prof- 

 itable, and that it is a sure and valuable investment. It 

 is true that landowners will not be inclined to interest 

 themselves in the establishment of high forests and wait 

 from 80 to 100 years for earning the fruits of their labors; 

 and even middle forests, which require a term of from 40 

 to 50 years for their exploitation, will not be attractive 

 to them, but coppice-cultures with cutting periods of 

 from 12 to 15 years will always, besides improving poor 

 soils, be desirable and well-paying operations. By select- 

 ing the proper species among our oaks, acacias, ashes, 



