The people's press, and Addison County Democrat. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1838-1841, 1841-05-25
AGRICULTURAL.

PRESERVATION OF WooDLANDs.--In looking
round The country, we find the most common
management of wood lots to be as follows:
Cattle and sheep are allowed TO range thro'
them; and all young trees within their reach
which they are fond of browsing. as the
maple, the Eastwood or the elm, are effectually
destroyed. Oak and hickory also suffer; and
between being overshadowed by large trees and
clipped by live stock, they soon become worth
less and stunted even they survive.
In the meantime the axe and the tempest are
radually thinning the primeval array of the
forest. A sound tree is wanted for sill or a
beam; or the necessary supply of rails for the
farm; and declining ones are Frustrated by the
storm, or cut for fire wood. As the residue
stand more distant from each other, the leaves
which formerly supplied an annual covering
for The roots, are now swept away by the winds
the grass gets possession; and tho young
trees will often flourish in the open pasture cd
trees which have always stood in the crowded
forest, cramped and confined in their roots, are
not prepared for the change; and the lot from
a wood, gradually becomes shady pasture.
Yet it is necessary for landed proprietors TO
look forward to the next generation: and our
advice would be: Inclose your woodlands, al
lowing no live stock to run through that can
damage the smallest tree: for though there may
be convenience sometimes in violating this
rule; yet ii will be paid for at dearer rate;
and it will be cheaper 10 hire pasture of a
neighbor even at high price. Let this en-.
closure be sacred from all intrusion of the
kind.
But large trees and small ones will not -four
ish together; and when large trees are feled
there is frequently destructive smashing a.
mong the juniors of the wood, When the far.
mer therefore wants rails and fire wood, let him
cut down portion annually, say quarter or
half an acre, sparing nothing that he finds IN
the ground, but let the axe and the ush.hook
perform their respective parts. Even saplings
will make durable rails, if cut at the right sea-
son-not of the moon but of the sun-in sum-
mer, autumn, or the early par, Of winter: and
then the young growth will have nothing 10
overshadow it. On the reverse, il will soon o.
vershadow the whole ground, retain the leaves
as they fall, and have Their roets protected from
the cold of winter, and the heat and drought of
summer.
We believe 1t is not an uncommon opinion
that oak. chestnut, or hickory lands, are the
only kinds worth preserving for an under.
growth; but we have never seen more thrifty
wood than one that was principally maple. ash,
buternut and Eastwood. The latter kinds in.
deed are more injured by cattle than the form.
er; but when they have not been destroyed,
and have clear field, their growth is very
rapid.-Genesee Farmer.
AGRICULTURE is THE FOUNDATION OF WEALTH
The sea renders her tribute; but the earth
presents 10 skill and industry richer and infn.
itelv more varied CO ntriburions. Money is not
wealth. 1t is only the representative of wealth.
Money is coveted because it can command la.
Tor: but of what use would it be, if labor would
not be commanded What would it avail to
possess all the riches of Potosi. if thereby we
could not acquire the products of agriculture?
What freights the barques OF commerce in their
liquid flight, threading every channel and viii
tening every port, but the products of agricul-
ture? Whence does the government derive its
revenues but from the fruits of agricultural
What constitutes the wealth of the country but
her cotton, hemp, sugar, rice, tobacco. wool,
wheat, beef and porkl Agriculture only can be
considered as the creator of wealth. The mer-
chant, the manufacturer, the sailor, the various
artisans and tradesmcn perform their part in
making the products Of agriculture more valu-
able; in transporting them so that the advan.
tages of climate are equalizcd, and in putting
them in condition for use; but agriculture a.
lone produces. Like the leader of Israel. she
strikes the rock, the waters flow, and famish'
ing people are satisfied. She supplies, she
feeds, she quickens all. Agriculture is the
commanding interest of the country. with
which no SINGLE interest, nor indeed all other
interests of a secular nature combined, can be
brought into competition.
Coeman's Address.