FORESTRY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THY .13PECT•7011,1 Sra,—The Report of the Committee of the House of Commons appointed to inquire into the subject of Forestry, does not, if I may venture to say so, insist with sufficient vigour on many of the advantages to be derived from planting trees on lands the agricultural products of which are for some reason or other un- profitable. I may not do more here than indicate the headings of some of these advantages, from which your readers will deduce with more or less appreciation, and with more or less confidence, lessons of which they can readily lad examples for themselves :—(a.) Climatic advantages of woods and forests in arresting droughts and floods; in attracting, collecting, storing, and distributing rain-water ; in affording shelter to crops. (bj Political advantages of planting ; in affording employment to persons ousted from agricultural and other employments. (e) Financial advantages; the use of wood advancing pari pasta with the use of iroa,—the value of wood appears to increase, not diminish. 01.1 Sanitary advantages ; every green tree producing under the influence of light large quantity of oxygen, and maintaining the equilibrium of the atmosphere by absorbing carbonic acid gases. (e.) Fructi- fying influences of trees in rendering the soil fertile by the deposit of their dead leaves, &c. In Sologne, the pine forms one of the regular rotation of crops, no manure being required for several years after its removal. (f) Educational advantages in teaching what is assumed not to be known,—the scientific pursuit of forestry. (g) General advantages of planting to the country. Planted land is, at any rate, better than waste land. The former improves, the latter deteriorates yearly. If these advantages—and the list is by no means exhaustive—be admitted, even in a degree, the very moderate demands made on the attention of Government in the recommendations of the Committee must surely meet not only with a favourable, but with a ready acceptance.—I am, Sir, &c.,
9 Bayshill Terrace, Cheltenham GEORGE CADELL.
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