REPORT ON FORESTS. 263 
Another point of great advantage is, that the forest is not con- 
tinuous, but cut into parcels, with farm lands and glades inter- 
vening. In fact it is a land of thrifty forests without foresters, 
and practically without the need of forest laws. 
For private holdings of pine lands, I am inclined to favor this 
method of management, under the peculiar conditions existing 
in certain parts of America. In this way the forest constantly 
yields, indirectly, an important income. It is simply a rotation 
of crops, of which the pine is the most important, producing 
throughout its whole life a material which, to the farmer of the 
eastern shore of Virginia, is of more value than wood.* 
It is easily seen, from the condition of the forest industries 
which have just been described, that the Coastal Plain of New 
Jersey has passed through the first and most lucrative stage of 
its existence. The time is at hand for the establishment of 
industries with permanency in view. The most important step 
in the right direction would be the protection of its woodlands, 
game, fish, oysters and clams, which were once so abundant. 
* By this system of culture the pine naturally and quickly regenerates. Large quantities of swine 
run in the forest in this region, and probably do as much good as damage in keeping the soil loose on 
the surface and by covering the seeds in the process of rooting. 
