TREE PLANTING,

FORESTRY IN EUROPE,

AND OTHER PAPERS.

BY

B. G. NORTHROP,

SECRETARY OF CONNECTICUT BOARD OF EDUCATION.

NEW HAVEN:

TUTTLE, MOREHOUSE & TAYLOR.
1880

Public interest in home and rural adornment is rapidly increasing in Connec-
ticut, where some fifty associations for Village Improvement have been already
organized. A little foresight will show that no community can afford to be
without such an association. This good work should go on till not a school
house, dwelling or street is left without the simple and grand adornment of
shade trees, or shrubbery, vines, flowers or lawn. In many towns such organi-
zations have already done incalculable good in promoting public health, culti-
vating public spirit, quickening social and intellectual life, and enhancing the
value of real estate. I shall be happy to coöperate with public-spirited citizens
who are moving in this matter, and will lecture on this subject without charge
either for services or expenses in any town in Connecticut. Tree-planting,
both economic and ornamental, commands new attention year by year. These
papers, reprinted from an official Report, retain a few local allusions to show
the original aim of the writer and the application of kindred plans and prin-
ciples to other fields.

ECONOMIC TREE-PLANTING.

BY HON. B. G. NORTHROP.

Being neither a scientist nor farmer, I have made no original investigations or practical experiments in forestry. Lest I may seem presumptuous in attempting to instruct others on a great subject in which I am myself a novice, reference is made to my opportunities for learning the matured views of those who, devoting their lives to this study, have made investigations and experiments on a broad scale. Three months of last summer were occupied in visiting "the Foresters," forest schools, and forest plantations of Europe. The letter of Governor Hubbard,* and one from Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, Secretary of State, bespeaking the coöperation of our ministers and consuls, whose aid might be needed, gave free access to all desired sources of information, especially the official "Departments of Forestry," forest schools and their professors, forest plantations, national, communal, or private, and their managers, and the parks and gardens on the Continent and in England. With note-book always in hand, I conferred with numerous authors in this department, as well as practical foresters. Gathering facts from so many experts, and condensing statements from so many sources, it is impracticable in this address to formally quote their language, which I have freely modified and abridged. In addition to the professors of the forest schools visited, and to many diplomatic agents, I

* EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, HARTFORD, CONN., June 12, 1877. I have signed these presents for the purpose of duly accrediting the Hon. B. G. Northrop, of the Board of Education of this State, who is commissioned by said Board to visit the Schools of Forestry and Forest Plantations, and the Industrial Schools of Europe, and report the results of his observations for the benefit of the schools and people of this State, and especially to encourage the reclamation of waste lands by the propagation of trees. I beg to commend Mr. Northrop to the courtesies and co-operation of all persons to whom these presents shall come, and particularly to those who are managers of the institutions above named, and are interested therein. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. RICHARD D. HUBBARD.