viii CONTENTS. 



view, 160-163. Palissy, 160; F. Simony, 161; Ladoucette, 161; C. F. Hartt, 

 162; E. D. Mathews, 162; Wilson Flagg, 162; F. B. Hougb, 162; The Boston 

 Daily Advertiser, 163; The N. Y. Nation, 163. 



SECTION II. 



Is Desiccation the Eesult of Partial or Entire Eemoval of the Forests 



BY the Hand of Man ? 1G4-184 



Discussion of the Causes influencing the Gro-wth and Distribution of 

 Forests, lG.5-170. Intluence of Temjierature, 16o ; of Moisture, 165-167 ; 

 of the Texture of the Soil, 167-169. Peschel's Views on this subject con- 

 troverted, 168, 169. — Desiccation begun before Man existed, 170, 171. 

 The Diminution of the Lakes of tlie Cordilleras and of Central Asia begun be- 

 fore Tertiary Times, 170. — Supposed Influence of Forests on Rain-fall 

 examined, 171-182. The Countries bordering on the Mediterranean not heavily 

 forested in historic times, 171. Burton's Observations in the Laud of Midiau 

 examined, 171, 172. Illustrative example in Nevada, 172. Incorrect statements 

 of authors in regard to California, 172, 173. Has New England become a Desert 

 in conse(|uence of the rapid clearing away of its Forests during the past fifty 

 years? 173, 174. Has the Climate of Egypt been changed by planting Trees? 

 175. Has the Climate of Salt Lake Valley undergone a Change in consequence 

 of Cultivation? 175, 176. Discussion of the Decrease of Great Salt Lake, 176, 

 177 ; of Winnemucca and Pyramid Lakes, 177. Is the Prairie Eegion a Desert? 

 177, 178. — Influence of Forests on Climate, and their Connection with the 

 Welfare of the People, 178, 179. Necessity of Economizing Water in Dry 

 Eegions, 179. Cloud-bursts and Character of Piain-fall in Dry Countries, 179. — 

 Supposed Antagonism between Man and Nature discussed, 180-183. Over- 

 irrigation, what it means, 182. Exhaustion of the Soil by Cultivation, 183. 

 Man cannot dominate Nature, 183, 184. 



SECTION 111. 



Desiccation as a Phase of the Glacial Erocii 184-193 



Discussion of the Vievr generally held by Geologists that the Phenomena 

 of Desiccation are simply a Phase of the Glacial Epoch, 185-192. Authors 

 quoted as holding this view, — H. C. Lewis, 185; N. H. Winchell, 186; S. F. 

 Emmons, 186 ; G. K. Gilbert, 186 ; R. D. Irving, 187 ; N. S. Shaler, 187 ; C. H. 

 Hitchcock, 187. Professor Dana's views, 187, 188. English authors quoted on 

 the same subject, — D. Mackintosh, 189 ; J. Geikie, 189. — The Views of these 

 Authors controverted, 190-193. Melting of the Great Glacier, 192. Diminu- 

 tion of the Rivers of Europe synchronous with the Rapid Decrease of tlie Gla- 

 ciers, 192, 193. 



SECTION IV. 



Examination of the Conditions favoring, or tending to diminish Precipi- 

 tation upon the Earth's Surface 193-204 



What canses Precipitation? 193, 194. Irregularity of the Distribution of the 

 Rain-fall on the Earth's Surface, 194. — Conditions affecting the Amount of 

 Precipitation, 194—198. Precipitation in the Equatorial Regions, 190, 197. Areas 



