Box 10, Folder 5: Correspondence 1868

Rochester Jun 7 1868

I. A. Lapham — Dr Sir I duly received your kind Letter & Report on the "destruction of Forest trees" which I have perused with great satisfaction, for it is a subject I have had earnestly impressed on my mind for many years, even as long ago as when I was connected with the Genesee Farmers — particularly in relation to Fall Building & Fencing & Hedges

I have long been convinced that the change of seasons were approaching the periodical rainy & dry seasons of California & New Mexico & were attributable to the clearing up of the country & denuding the surface of the natural forests as also its effects on our ability in Western N. Y. to produce Peaches & fine fruits & even the uncertainty of the hardy Apple —

From 1815 to '32 the thermometer never sunk below [illegible]/5 & our Peach crop never failed now for several years it descends from 18 to 25. The crop is now the most precarious of our productions —

The changes in our Rivers & springs is most palpable. The excessive high & low water is

increasing every year & this city is threatened with a catastrophy [catastrophe] as fatal as the great storm at St. Thomas, by water from the encroachments on the River banks & the insufficient water-way through stone arched Bridges & Aqueducts & all the result of the sinful waste of the great protective forests. The moment land is cleared it soon becomes arable low places & swamps are drained & down comes the falling waters swelling the larger streams with relentless fury — in short undergoing all the results that you so truly and thoroughly describe every point of which is palpable to my mind & indisputable I can add nothing to enforce your statement. You have exhausted the subject both by authorities & reasons.

But you may speak & reason like an angel you will never be able to effect any great or radical change in the habits of our people nor induce them to expend time & money that they can't realize the almighty Dollar in about the period of the wheat crop or fattening Pigs

The word Posterity is not in their vocabulary. Every man with 1 or 200 acres of land has got a shingle on his hat "For Sale" & an axe on his shoulder for a start to better himself, at least in his minds eye.

Where Entailment & Primogeniture does not prevail nothing is done for posterity, he knows perfectly well that at his death which may happen any day that his family must have their shares of the farm & it is sold & they scatter to the four winds of heaven; there is no attachment to the ancestral acres & one or two generation & the primitive owners are blotted out forever no reasoning will have any effect as long as there are new lands to subdue with wood enough to warm his toes what cares he for scarcity of timber & wood. "What shall I gain by devoting ^10 or^ 20 acres of my best land to an expensive & laborious process from which I can have none or but little benefit Devil take the hindmost I had nothing to begin with let the boys do as I did. Posterity be "____

The fact is that the genus Homo is not as great an institution as they are cracked up to be thoughtless recklesss unthinking selfish mulish, "thats men" exactly.

I see no way to effect a general change on this important subject with the general landed interest but by the inter =ference of the authorities to arrest the [illegible] waste of what remains — or to make it obligatory on the towns to pay a liberal premium for every hundred trees any one shall propagate on lands that have not retained a sufficiency

Many individuals of right feeling from public spirit & self interest would be induced to create local Bands of of quick growing deciduous & ever green trees, to protect particular crops & fruits & domestic mansions

The subject of Hedges I have always considered very important, especialy [especially] in your semi prairie Country.

Your report is intended for effect with the masses not merely to exhibit your ability & learning but to convince the people that many headed monster of its importance

& enforce the important truths it so palpably illustrates & you must permit me to say that its general style is a little too scientific, a little too strong of the schools to be adapted to the understandings and comprehension of ordinary farmers — what they call down south high falutin, what will they make of quincunx Isothermal deciduous conifers &c &c. I am now over 80 years of age & I rather mistrust I am getting a little old fogeyish & you may think not a little remember you started the Ball I am only giving it a kick.

I think your list of trees embrace too large a range. I would have nothing to do with Willows or Poplars — Hard & soft Maples Hickory Chestnut Oaks & Elm Basswood & perhaps Buttonwood & some quick growing conifers — all hardy

I consider that table as to the value of wood as totally fallacious & have always held that the weight settled that question with the exception for steam when the [illegible] woods are preferred —