The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-05-12


Bsa,d, and Prgj,"o, Of CLtmisiry IN The Lai-
ts,.dg OF F,raoW ami Sfais .igioaivrR Coi
dys.
Remote as We are from the seaboard,
We cannot, it is true, so readily avail
ourselves Of smother source Of wealth
which the sea supplies. But though cur
streams do not yield in sufficient abund-
ance fish as a source of manure, they may
still be made productive Of supplies Tor
the table, and since recent attention has
been called 10 this matter, it is to be
hoped that appropriate legislation shall
ere many years secure a supply OF deli.
cious ard wholesome food, which once
existed in our streams in provoibial
abundance, but which wasleiul neglect
aud thoughtfulness has made a luxury
for the rich alone, While sailing down
the Danube. recently, | saw along the
banks scores OF floating mills each turn-
ished with n rude uudershot wheel, but
supplying to the Hungarian peasant
convenient power for grinding his Hour
and provcnder. 1t may be that at slight
expense many Of our people, whose farms
adioin one or another Of our rapid
streams, might for one purpose or another
utilize this source Of power, where more
expensive mills were out OF the question.
Sd. Another source OF waste which
ought not to exist may be found IN our
woodlands, know and | hope | fully
appreciate the labors of our ancestors,
who literally carved out for themselves
and for their children resting place amid
our then imrenetrabe forests, but now
the case is sadly changed Lee US de.
voutly pray that hereafter no man shall
be famous according as he has lifted up
axes upon the thick trees. The time was
when our primeval forests were counted
only as cumberers of the ground, and the
early settler sought only to rescue from
the undisputcd possession of the wolves
and bears space sufficient to afford him
the scant crops which should maintain
himself and family. Little thought he of
else than a good radiance Of this primal
curse, the grand old forest. But later
still demand for potash or for tan bark.
caused the axe and fire. brand TO be again
taken up, and thousands OF acres OF our
best timber lands have answered their de-
mands. Our numerous railroads, too,
have marked their course through our
forests like destroying angels, until in
many cases. with nothing more to destroy,
they have been forced to seek out other
supplies Of fuel Indeed at the present.
from every portion Of Christendom, comes
the cry of protest Woodman, spare that
tree At the present time no question
more seriously agtate8 the intelligent
public mind than the preservation OF our
forests. need scarcely call attention 10
the greatly increased price of certain
kinds of lumber, which, within even the
memory Of most Of US, were almost drugs
in the market Each year we are re.
minded of the rapid exhaustion OF those
regions upon which Of late years we have
to such degree depended ior our supply,
Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin among
the States, and the Upper Ottawa in Ca
NADIA. need hardly call attention to the
thousands Of acres which in France and
Germany, in Austria and in Italy are
culture, where crops Of wood are reaped
as regularly as corn, cats or potatoes are
with US. Indeed, in certain sections of
our own country this to a limited extent
already prevails. Now do not mistake
Inc, for would urge upon every one the
cutting and selling Of his timber, as soon
as any other crop, provided always he OBJ
tains its full value So, too, would |
council selling manure, ashes, bones, in.
deed any article Of farm produce, but at
its proper value But how rarely DO We
see any systematic effort TO replace these
forests even on those lands which not
alone are quite incapable of tillage, but
which from the absence Of this protecting
forest growth speedily becomes denuded
wastes Of bare rock. But wish now
more especially to call your attention to
direct waste hoping that we may revert
to this matter Of fores. culture at another
time. In nearly every woodland mag be
found Frustrated trees rapidly passing
under the influence Of air and moisture
into vegetable mould crushing ard mu.
tilating in their chance fall many Of their
lesser brethren Of the forest, and mped.
ing travel by their large bulk. Why
not remove such eucumbrances and, un.
I'll exhausted, depend upon such for the
winters supply Of irewood? know
many small patches of wood, have seen
them upon my travels throughout the
State, in which the fallen timber would
amply supply the yearly need. Again,
how many forests or woodlands are care.
fully examined for the removal Of snch
trees as may have attained their prime,
and through various influences are suffer.
ing rapid deterioration Why should
not the intelligent agriculturist remove
such, while still a source Of revenue, and
replace them with young and vigorous
sapiDgs removed from the thicket which
ike money at the bank, shall be gradual.
ly increasing in amount. We fail to rec,
ogaize, many Of US, that trees are cror
which may be grown, though not SC
rapidly, yet just as surely as grass OF
corn, and often quite as remuneratively
Let no one fancy that would counsel OF
even countenaDce with equqnimity the
removal of these grand old elms which
have thrown for generations their CRATE.
full shade upon the ancestral home, MOI
even though now and then a dead liml
appearing in their leafy head betokeui
approaching dissolution, May tender
hands hold the saw and axe which remove
their dead and dangerous branches
About them fingers a host of memories Sc
tender as to make US rebuke the sacrileg,
which would infict upon them needles
blow. Upon them is placed an aesthetic
value, unmeasured, thank God by tn
cords of wood their grand old boles ant
branches would ensure. Nor suppos
either that would urge the gathering "
Of Frustrated trunks and encumberinl
limbs beyond what strict economy woul'
dictate. If they cost to get them NOR
than they are worth, by all means le