No. 161.] 105 
As the value of this region depends on its ores, it ought to be set 
apart especially for their reduction; and as the great obstacle in 
the way of permanent establishments for working the ores of iron, 
is the want of fuel sooner or later, it is a measure of policy as well 
as wisdom, to proceed in cutting the timber with a rigorous sys- 
tem. To secure a sufficiency of wood for the future, only a given 
area should be devoted to the axe yearly, and on this enough of 
the small trees should be left standing to support the soil and pre- 
vent its washing; steep declivities will require more support in 
this way than those less inclined. When steep escarpments have 
once been stripped of their verdure, it requires a great length of 
time to reclothe them. To be convinced of this, we may observe 
the slow progress which nature makes in effecting this work; first, 
she forms a covering of moss and lichens; then a larger growth of 
the same; these decaying, form a little spare soil in the cracks and 
crevices of rocks; in these, larger species of plants fix themselves, 
which in their turn also die and are decomposed; still larger kinds 
may now find a footing, when, after many years, a sufficient thick- 
ness of soil is formed to support the woody stems. A century may 
elapse before all these preparations can be completed. There is a 
remarkable fact to be taken into consideration, when it is intended 
to clear the land of its forests; it is this — the second growth of 
timber will differ in kind from the first; thus the hard woods are 
succeeded usually, by the soft, as hemlock, spruce and pine, or by 
alder, willows and white birch. There may be no objection to this 
course of nature, in some instances; for example, it is said, that 
coal made from the soft woods is best for the reduction of the pro- 
toxides of iron, as the harder coals create too much heat for this 
species of ore. As this is the species of ore common in the nor- 
thern counties, permanent establishments would be in no danger of 
suffering inconvenience by a change in the kinds of vegetation. 
We might here make some remarks on the management of iron 
works in general, but as the subject is taken up by my assistant, Mr. 
Hall, I shall pass it over with the single remark, that too little 
science is possessed by those who have the superintendence of 
them. Difficulties are encountered very frequently in working ore 
of different parcels, from the same bed, and they are difficulties 
which science combined with practical knowledge can only over- 
come. 
[Assem. No. 161.] 
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