40 



ami red pine, Norway spruce, and Scotch pine and larch, and sliall'speat of 

 them aa if they absolutely existed already and were thriving where we desire' 

 them to grow. 



SUGGESTrONS FOR PRACTICE. 



Among the duties assigned to the present commission, is that ef suggest- 

 ing the best method of preveating the evils that threaten the future pro- 

 gress of our state in wealth and population by the too rapid -destruction of 

 the forests. This would obviously be, to encourage the growth of trees in all 

 those portions of the state where they are deficient, and their preservatioH 

 where they are- still sufficiently abundant. At least one-sixth of the entira 

 surface should be devoted to wood— and one-fifth would not be too much — to 

 supply the wants of the present and future population, and to secure the 

 needed protection to crops, &e. Lands least suitable for ordinary culture 

 should remain, or be planted in wood. But to secure-, the greatest benefit, 

 from tree-culture, belts of timber should be reserved or planted. With 

 proper tree-befts the numberof our agricultural products might be increased; 

 the annual product of the crops now cultivated would be increased; the- 

 the quality of these- products would be improved ; the health, eomfort and 

 enjoyment of both " man and beast"' would be- promoted ; and -with judicious; 

 management' these tree-belts would" very soon yield an annual income, that 

 would amply repay their cost, in addition to all their incidental advantages. 



It is believed that this object might be accomplished by oifering, under 

 proper regulations, a bounty of one per centum of the assessed value of all 

 lands, not exceeding one-fifth of the tract of which it forms a part, upon: 

 which the owner has planted trees in such manner as to secure the required 

 . protection ; and a similar bounty should be allowed to such as shall reserve 

 a suitable number of trees for the purpose, when clearing new land ; or 

 if deemed more advisable, proper tree-belts might be exempted from tar- 

 ation . 



OF TREE -BELTS. 



No positive rule can be laid down, which shall be applicable to trees in all 

 places which shall be best for tree-belts ;. but judgment, knowledge, observa- 

 tion and skill must be exercised in regard to each piece of ground. Much 

 information may be elicited by observing what trees grow naturally upon a 

 given quality of soil ; and the planter will not be likely to go far astray whoi 

 shall follow such an index. Thus, where the- burr and white oak, and shell- 

 bark hiokopy, is the prevailing timber ; on that ground and the adjoining 

 black mould of the prairie, he may expect, that the shag-bark, shell-bark and 

 pig-nut hickory, the white and burr oak, white ash, sugar and silver leafed 

 maples, white pine, Scotch larch, black walnut, butternut, cherry, locust,, 

 basswood, tulip-tree, white elm, red elm, hackberry, Norway spruce, beech 

 and cedar will thrive well;, and of those trees.he may make either his forsst 

 8B- tree-belt 



