60 STATE OP MICHIGAN. 



this article, so important, so essential to every one, approximating in 

 necessity the water be drinks, is so utterly bsyond his control. Ver'y 

 recently the people of this country have realized, to some considerable 

 extent, what it is to be deprived of fuel; to be compelled to submit to the 

 exactions, the rapacity, of those who own and control the supplies of 

 coal. It is a foretaste of what must, to a greater or less degree, be per- 

 petually endured, assuming conditions to remain as they are. But is 

 there no relief from this menace of the future? Surely there is, and those 

 of the farmers of Michigan Avho still possess a woodlot on their estate 

 should know and appreciate this relief. He who is able to fill his stoves 

 with wood cut from his own land is fortunate indeed — the possessor of 

 an element of happiness that is truly great. And, really, there is little 

 reason why, with few exceptions, every farm of ordinary size in this State 

 should not thus have a good woodlot. Originally, the entii*e common- 

 wealth was covered with timber; how easy to have reserved from wanton 

 destruction of this great abundance, such a supply as should, under 

 proper care, have rendered every farmer in Michigan independent of the 

 coal barons and fearless of their exactions! In much of the State, in its 

 newer portions, the remedy is still in the hands of the freeholders. They 

 have timber still standing, and may exercise their wisdom and preserve 

 il'. And, too, in the older settled parts of the State there are still beauti- 

 ful woodlots, and it is only to be hoped that the owners are awake 

 to the importance of preserving them. But, with all this so recent ex- 

 perience of the danger of being at the mercy of the coal dealers, one sees 

 yet the reckless destruction of trees. In the southern counties of the State 

 there are still many farms with woodlots that, with prudence, would 

 suffice for the uses of the owner for many years to come; but, unfortu- 

 nately, in not infrequent instances, these owners, tempted by the high 

 price of wood, are cutting their trees and hauling the product to market, 

 making the excuse that the productive value of the land for crops will 

 enable them to buy their fuel — a mistake and delusion. 



One of the important facts about the farmer's life is, or should be, its 

 independence; is the fact that, beyond any other calling in life, the 

 farmer is sufficient unto himself; that is, that he can raise upon his farm, 

 cause his farm to yield to him, so much that is essential for the support 

 and comfort of himself and family. Eliminate this fact, have the farmer 

 where others are, and you abstract from his calling one of its chief 

 charms. The farmer's life should be an independent one. He should 

 ever plan that his estate yield him as many of the necessities and the 

 luxuries of life as the conditions will allow ; and among the chief of these 

 is fuel. His farm should contain a good woodlot. If there is one on the 

 farm, he should care for it ; and if there is not, it is his duty to raise one. 

 This can easily be done in Michigan. Trees grow very rapidly. The 

 years come and go in quick succession, and if one but takes the initiative 

 and plants young trees, the time will seem to be but short ere thev be- 

 come of considerable size. How fortunate it would be for the people of 

 our State if the farmers would seriously take hold of this most important 

 matter of preserving the timber which they have on their farms and plant- 

 ing out to supply, when they have it not. 



There is much else to be said in favor of the farmer's woodlot. How 

 convenient it is to be able to go to the woods for a few stakes, a binding 

 pole, or any other of the many necessities that continually arise in the 



