lbi STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



possibly in a level country, must more or less affect its value or usefulness as a 

 protection against the wind, this consideration should doubtless enter into the 

 estimate of its value for such purpose. 



In considering the importance of this subject, and the necessity for concerted 

 action respecting it, it must by no means be forgotten that the evil has been 

 long at work, and that its operation is by no means at an end ; that it is not 

 through the opening of a single farm, or even of dozens of contiguous farms, 

 that it acquires a serious magnitude ; but rather, it is by the covering of broad 

 stretches of country with thousands of cleared-up farms, and thus bringing 

 extensive areas of once sheltered lands to a condition approaching that of the 

 treeless regions of the " Great AVest," that we have accomplished the process of 

 degrading the climate of such regions to something approaching the severity of 

 theirs. For the fact that we have failed to fully reach their level, in this respect, 

 we are indebted less to our wisdom or forethought, than to the unfailing influ- 

 ence of circumjacent waters of our lakes, and the slow and partial operation of 

 the causes that conspire to produce the extermination of our forests. Very 

 possibly other and more effective measures may be devised for staying the evil 

 complained of ; but, with our earnest convictions as to the magnitude of the 

 interests involved, we cannot omit to urge upon all a careful consideration of 

 the matter ; and should you come to agree with the conclusions reached, we 

 cannot too strongly urge that you " bear a hand," and an earnest one, through 

 the process indicated, or some other effective one, toward the staying of the 

 operation of the causes which are so unfavorably affecting the climatic charac- 

 ter of our State ; and, through this, exerting so serious an influence upon the 

 success of our agricultural and horticultural pursuits. 



