10 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



often said, far beyond the boundaries which they 

 now occupy, there will be a much larger supply of 

 wood in the market than at present is the case, and 

 the price of the article must of necessity fall. Sup- 

 posing this to be true, it would still be a very weak 

 argument, when used, as it commonly is, to dis- 

 suade from planting. Were timber reduced to one- 

 fifth part of its present value, and gave but one in- 

 stead of five pounds for the annual rent of an ^cre 

 of ground, the profits of raising it on our waste 

 lands would still be immense, if these lands in their 

 natural state are not worth, on the whole, more than 

 one shilling per acre annually. To suppose, how- 

 ever, that the price of wood will ever in this country 

 be depressed so low, is a most absurd hypothesis. 

 Before the extent of our fiUl grown plantations can 

 be increased in any considerable degree, allowing 

 that planting should be henceforth carried on with 

 a spirit imparalleled at any former period, fifty or 

 sixty years mvist intervene. By that time our Ame- 

 rican supplies will, in all probability, have fallen off 

 so much as to leave a void in the market, which 

 will afford ample room for the increase of our own 

 produce. 



But there are other advantages to be derived from_ 

 planting, besides the profits that arise from the sale 



