6 THE TREES OF AMERICA. 



deficient ? Light, shade, shelter, coohiess, freshness, music, all the colors of the 

 rainbow, dew and dreams droppmg through their soft twilight at eve and morn, 

 dropping direct, soft, sweet, soothing, restorative from heaven. Without trees, 

 how in the name of wonder could Ave have houses, ships, bridges, easy chairs, or 

 coffins, or almost any siagle one of the necessaries, comforts, and conveniences 

 of life]" 



We may anticipate the verdict of posterity, in our own feelings when enjoying 

 the shade and coolness of the leafy road, or in contemplating the many uses to 

 which the tree is adapted. "Who has not felt to bless the name of Tudor, when 

 rambling over " the stem and rock-bound shores " of Nahant ] And Avho does 

 not feel a glow of gratitude, when walking the lofty aisles of verdure in the 

 " City of Elms," to him who did so much to produce so vast a leafy temple 1 



In our enjoyment of the present, Ave are apt to forget that Ave cannot, without 

 sin, neglect to provide for those AA'ho are to come after us. In order to do our 

 duty to our country, to those AAho are to succeed us, we should do all ra our 

 poAver to encourage the planting of trees. In some parts of Germany the gov- 

 ernment makes it a duty for every landholder to plant trees in the highways, 

 before his property ; and it is said that in a few towns no young man can marry 

 till he has planted a tree. As the people govern here, they should see that their 

 government be as enlightened in this direction as that of the despotic rulers of 

 the old Avoiid. 



Lord Bagot planted, during his life, over tAVO million oaks in Staffordshire and 

 Wales, AA'hich are said to be the most planted by any one man in England in his 

 time. It Avould seem as if a sort of noble rivalry existed among many English 

 gentlemen, in respect to planting trees. DaA'y speaks of Sir Joshua Yannec, 

 Avho, he says, " has, Avith his noble plantation of oaks, beeches, chestnuts, &c., 

 ornamented the Avhole country, and which in half a century, as the soil is faA^or- 

 able to them, wUl be an inexhaustible treasure to the public, as well as to his 

 family." — The profit of growing forest trees is a subject upon which Ave hope to 

 be able to present some data in the progress of this Avork, AAhich aa'III be of value, 

 and furnish additional inducements to the planting and preservation of trees. 

 Mr. South mentions that an oak of sixty years' standing Avill in tAventy-four years 



