No. 199.] 491 



Chairman. — The regular subject of the day is now in order, '•Hrcnis- 

 planting trees. ^' 



Dr. Underhillj of Croton Point. — The man that grows a tree, is in 

 my opinion, more important than the man who cuts it down ; and 1 

 foresee that in the future increased wisdom of men, they will re- 

 establish the forests, and provide that great proportion of foliage so 

 necessary to health, knowing that impure air is rendered pure by the 

 vegetable power operating by means of foliage. Benefactors of the 

 human race will set out proper trees in barren places, and restore the 

 departed fertility and beauty. We already find a scarcity of the 

 most important timber, the white oak is among them Some public 

 benefactor should now commence growing that noble tree ; another 

 should plant and cherish our locust, especially, and no tree rewards 

 the careful planter more ; it flourishes on our sandy lands, and when 

 once a forest of them is established, they continue to grow from the 

 roots, and will, I may safely say, go on to do so for a thousand years; 

 tliere is scarcely any tree like it in this particular. 



Plant acorns too. 



Chairman. — ^Yes, sir, and Chestnuts, for that tree, like the locast, 

 is reproduced as well as that from the stump, as well as seed. 



Dr. Underbill. — True, but its timber does not equal that of locust 

 in value. For proper transplanting of trees, the hole where the tree 

 is to stand, must be large enough to receive the greatest quantity of 

 roots that can be taken up, and spread out fairly in the hole, vege- 

 table mould should be put in it, plenty, so that the roots may be im- 

 bedded in it, then cover over with clay. Thus the tree will bear 

 drought and cold well. The clay covering will prevent the ascend- 

 ing elements of fertility below from passing off too rapidly. 



For the establishment of an orchard plough very deep, and put the 

 vegetable mould as deep as possible ; set the trees so far apart and 

 trim them so that the sun may reach all parts of them ; be careful to 

 set the tree, in reference to the sun, as it grew, for the sunny side 

 always has a quicker and fuller growth than the other, so that the heat 



