WASHINGTON, AND MARION COUNTIES. I 7 



So far we have only written of the destruction over the 

 parts of those counties, which have been almost denuded of 

 their trees, for farming- purposes. When we come to examine 

 the timbers of those regions that are above the Corniferous 

 Limestones, the destruction has not been so large. The val- 

 uable trees have mostly been culled out, while the poorer 

 ones have been left, because there was no demand lor them. 

 Each day sees the better ones going; and it is only a question 

 of a very lew years, when not a tree of value will be hit. 

 But,. if even the last desirable tree of sufficient age for lumber 

 had been destroyed, the loss would not have been irreparable, 

 had they been removed with care. Over the entire secfien 

 young trees remain, and in time would be of value, if any 

 care were given them; but it is not done. In the destruction 

 of one sinerle tree, through ignorance and carelessness, often 

 a hundred young ones are either destroyed or forever injured. 



Sometimes, persons passing through th" woods gash every 

 tree which comes within reach of axe or hatchet. Roads are 

 cut in every direction, requiring the demolition of thousands 

 of fine young trees. Wagons and logs are dragged over 

 them, bending, breaking, and bruising every shrub or sprout 

 in the way. The whole region has been nearly dismantled of 

 its chestnut oak. The bark has been taken away, and the 

 remainder — trunk and branches — lie rotting on the ground. 

 The poplars and the walnuts are about gone ; and the white 

 oaks are fast following" in their wake. Hundreds are felled in 

 a few days; those that, are good have two or three sections 

 cut from them, and the trunks and branches are left to decay. 

 If others are not found to be so good in timber when {(.died, 

 they are left to rot with the trunks and branches of the others. 

 If we pass through those regions, we see on every side the 

 most mischievous waste or the most criminal destruction. 



Hut the evil does not end yet ; for often among the felled 

 tops and withered shrubs, fires are lighted by careless or 

 vicious hands, to sweep in conflagrations among the dead 

 waste, the prepared lumber and the green trees. Sometimes 

 these fires burn for weeks till the clouds, more merciful than 



GEOLOG. S0B.-2 



