YAY 
Price. ] 204 [Nov. 16 & Dee. 7, 
‘in clearing the ground care be taken to leave one acre of trees for every 
five acres cleared ; especially to preserve oak and mulberry trees for silk 
and shipping.” His father, Admiral Penn, would have included in it 
‘shipping,’ for the purpose of maintaining a navy ; still an object of our 
statesmen so far as iron has not superceded wood. 
Thus William Penn’s rule was to leave one for five acres cleared, or 163 
per cent. of wood appendant to each farm ; of course, so much besides 
the wooded hills, sand-dunes and mountain tracts. For the entire country, 
and for the general good of forestry and agriculture his proportion of 
woodland is probably something too small.. The proportion of woodlands 
in the entire area of these States, taking into consideration water surface, 
cities, highways, &c., is 29 per cent.; including Territories, is 25 per cent. ; 
showing a disproportion of our Territories to be woodless. 
Dr. Hough gives the rule of proportion of wood with reference to the 
true test. He says ‘‘ There can be no doubt but that injuries may result, 
as well to agricultural interests as to the public, from an excess of forest 
growth. It is the highest aim of forestry to attain the golden mean be- 
tween too much and too little, and on this due balance of field and grove 
depends that equilibrium of health and wealth that promises the greatest 
amount of human happiness to the greatest number, and through the 
longest period of time.’’ Report, p. 32. 
It is impracticable to bring the different States or sections of the United 
States to approximate any uniform standard as to the proper proportion of 
woodlands. It would generally be unprofitable to attempt to make arable, 
steep, stony and rough mountain lands, or poor sandy tracts, or deep 
swamps and ever-glades. But it is the interest of all to keep these wooded, 
and to reforest the lands worn out by cropping, that they may not become 
dry deserts. But every vast con inuity of forest should be broken for ag- 
riculture, intercourse and security of health, property and life, and regions 
of prairie and deserts be made to bear a due proportion of forests. 
And farm lands should be interspersed with trees to preserve them in the 
best agricultural condition. To do this, few farmers, though they draw their 
fucl from the mines, are inclined, by planting areas of cultivated or pastured 
fields. This they would not consider economical. But they could with little 
loss of useful space, plant the most sunny side of every road passing through 
their farms, and thus the farming soil would be little shaded, and the roots 
of the trees draw the greater part of their nourishment from the soil under 
the highway. The public would be gainers in grateful shade, and the 
farmers would have the protection of the roadside trees and their shade ; 
and finally, their use as timber as they come to maturity, and are replaced 
by renewed plantings. To do so much, an enlightened self-interest should 
impel them. 
In addition let every farmer keep open and flowing all his springs for drink 
for his herds and flocks; plant around them groves of trees, both to pre- 
serve the flow of the water, and to afford shade to man and beast. 
Every railroad company should plant trees on the sunny side of their line 
