850 
STATE AGRICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
we here find little or no provision for a supply when the pres¬ 
ent crop of trees is exhausted. 
While we cannot prevent the destruction of our forests lor 
the use and benefit of the present generation, we can and 
should take measures to create forests upon our farms, which 
will be ample to supply the wants of those who are to come 
after us. Comparatively little has yet been done in this di¬ 
rection, and this little has been confined mainly to the culti¬ 
vation of those varieties which are of rapid growth, and which 
would consequently bring the quickest returns. While these 
varieties are, perhaps, more profitable for artificial groves than 
most of the slower growing.ones, yet it is highly important that 
a sufficient number of kinds should be grown to subserve all 
the purposes of the mechanic arts, and these arts call largely 
for the close, firm texture of the slower growing varieties. I 
am inclined to the opinion that the rate of growth in trees is 
generally underestimated, and am quite sure that comparative¬ 
ly few landholders realize that large profits would ultimately 
accrue from culiivating groves, even of the more moderate 
growing varieties. To illustrate the rate of spontaneous growth 
of such sorts I will cite an instance which has come under my 
own observation. 
A few miles from my residence are a few acres of ground 
which were cleared of timber sixteen or seventeen years since. 
There was then left upon the ground a growth of underbrush 
only, consisting of several varieties of oak, hickory, ash, and 
some other sorts. I have watched the growth of timber there 
from year to year, until the present time, and am myself sur¬ 
prised at the result. 
The land was worth, when cleared, perhaps twelve dollars 
per*acre, not more. There have been taken from it, during 
the last seven years, poles equal in value, probably, to ten dol¬ 
lars per acre ; and one hundred and fifty dollars per acre would 
hardly buy the trees now standing upon it. So that if we es¬ 
timate the value of the land (at the time mentioned) at twelve 
dollars per acre, and compute the interest upon this for six¬ 
teen years, at six per cent, compound interest, adding the 
