IMPROVEMENT OF THE FORESTS. 17 
dom attempted in New England. The inhabitants of each town 
have been content with the kinds of wood growing in their 
neighborhood ; or, where particular kinds, not to be found there, 
were necessary for the manufactures already established, they 
have been satisfied to import them froma distance. In very 
few instances, have systematic efforts been made to provide a 
future supply of the best materials, in their own immediate 
vicinity. This is to be done. The individuals interested in a 
particular branch of manufacture in wood may say, that when 
materials fail them in one place, they will go to another. The 
owners of the land ought not to rest satisfied with this view of 
the case. ‘True patriotism and enlightened views of economy, 
ought to prevent any one from consenting to it. 
Massachusetts must necessarily continue to be a manufactur- 
ing State; and the manufactures in wood are among the most 
important branches of industry, and must be not only continued 
but enlarged. They cannot even continue, unless pains are 
taken to plant forests which shall furnish the necessary mate- 
rials. A manufacturer of wooden bowls and trays in Boston, 
who had procured his materials from Maine, found that it would 
be better economy to live near the woods which produced them, 
and send the finished articles thence to market. When the large 
ashes and beeches of Becket are cut down, the maker of wood- 
en-ware must remove to an older forest. What takes place in 
individual cases, indicates the necessary but silent movement 
of great masses. One by one, the workers in wood will have 
left the State, when the old forests shall have been all cut down. 
A prudent foresight may prevent this, by planting, in season, 
the kinds of trees necessary for these various demands,—for fuel 
and for all the branches of manufacture. For this end, we have 
extraordmary resources. Among the native trees, we have great 
choice, from the number, variety, and excellence of the species. 
In the narrow breadth of Massachusetts, the species of native 
timber trees are more numerous than are found in any kingdom 
of Europe. We have nine large oak trees, four hickories, five 
birches, three large maples, three ashes, three pines, two wal- 
nuts, two elms, two spruces, two cedars, besides the beech, the 
chestnut, the hornbeam, the lever wood, the tupelo, the hoop 
3 
