Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-08-21


Il l. seldom that the owners of woodlands
in his country ever think Of taking the
least care of them. It seems To make but
very little difference whether the trees grow
straight OF crooked. slowly or rapidly, for
nature is left 10 take care of her own Troduc-
iions but To give her any assistance is an
exception 70 the general rule. In the case of
forests We can certainly learn much from the
people Of European countries, where every
large landed estate has it, forester, whose
business it If To attend % all the woods be-
longing it. He not only has to see that the
woods are properly pruned and thinned out,
but that constant supply of young trees is
at hand to fill up all vacant spaces that may
be made by removing the old and mature
timber.
On several occasions we have called the
attention of our readers to the importance of
planting forests. but We wish now to remind
them that the care and preservation offorests
Is also a subject worthy of their careful con
sideration.
There are few landowners, except those on
the large prairies, who do not possess a small
piece of woods which, if properly cared for,
would supply them with all the timber real
" necessary for their own private use bat
A. negligence Is common trait with most of
our people it j. not TO be wondered at that
many Of our small forests are becoming ex-
tinct. and Others will soon follow in the same
wav unless different system from the one in
vogue is adopted. No farmer expects to raise
wheat continually on the same piece Of land
without adding s1methin. to keep mp IL fer
tility; neither does he think of growing corn
or potatoes without cultiyating them. In
other words he assists nature, and this /,
Just what should be done in our forests.
Nature scatters the seeiI prlmiscu0uslv.
and often - abundantly that there is a con
slant strife for existence and it j. only the
strongest. or those which fall in favorable
locations. that survive and come to maturity
hence the necessity of timely thinning out
and occasional pruning.
II mus; Dee apparent To every observer that
a hundred large trees cannot grow upon a rod
square of land then why allow nature to
attempt it. and permit score Of young trees
TO struggle for existence in such a crowded
portion that none can make more than a few
inches ofgrowth annually, when. ifa portion
Of them was removed those that remained
would soon grow 70 a large size, and become
valuable Besides this, our forests are COM
posed Of many species Of trees, some Of which
are far more valuable than others, while
few are comparatively worthless, and there is
certainly no good reason for encumbering the
soil with a poor tree, when there are album
dance Of valuable ones to take its place
Therefore we advise every farmer to look
well to his woodlands, for they are often of
more value than that which Is under cultiya
ton. 1t requires but little time and labor
TO ~ through the woods and cut out the
worthless underbrush and poorest kinds of
trees, and give that which remains a chance
to grow and take full possession of the soil
Better burn up the trash and make ashes of
it for iertilzing the cultivated land. than to
let it remain where it only encumbers the
sail which should be occupied by better
things.
In cutting large trees it is better to select
those which have arrived at maturity, (pro-
vided they will answer the desired purpose),
in preference to younger trees, and if this
plan l. followed and the small seedlings and
sprouts are taken care Of. forest may be
come source of perpetual income, and still
increase in vulue.-N. \. Sun.