92 Wisconsin State Horticultueal Society. 



I have said enough to show the immense importance of tbe 

 subjfct, but the real gravity of the situation is not appreciated 

 until we consider the relations that exist between the general life 

 of the globe and its forest covering. The advantages that the 

 earth and her inhabitants receive from the forests may be summed 

 up thus : 



1. Increased rainfall. I state this because it is commonly sup- 

 posed to be a fact^ but it is by no means proved, and is not 

 accepted by the best authorities, such as, in this country, Marsh, 

 Whitney, Sargant and Emerson. 



2. Equible distribution of rainfall and uniformity of tempera- 

 ture; closely connected with these functions is: 



3. The forests as storehouses of moisture. These effects, of 

 which there can be no doubt, are of vast importance in the gen- 

 eral life of the globe, and in very many departments of human 

 labor. Nothing is better establi.shed than that the destruction of 

 forests causes sudden floods at one time of the year, and drought 

 at another ; turns navigable streams into drj^ torrent beds, diies up 

 mil! ponds, extinguishes perennial fountains and springs, makes 

 summers hotter and winters colder, delays spring and lengthens 

 autumn, breaks up our once uniform winter, and in many ways 

 lessens the fertility of the soil and intensifies the harshness of the 

 climate. 



4. Keeps off" the wind, thus diminishing all the great evils 

 produced by their cold, their mechanical force, and their dessicat- 

 ing or " drying up " power. 



5. Their direct and indirect influence upon human health. 



6. Their economic products, classified under the two compre- 

 hensive heads of fuel and lumber. Of this feature I have already 

 spoken at large. 



Some of the historic facta and illustrations which support the 

 above conclusions are interesting. I will mention a few. Ireland 

 was once densely wooded. It is now almost destitute of forest, 

 the proportion being less than two per cent. That this is one of 

 the natural causes of the repeated crop failures and famines is 

 asserted by very high authority. Six centuries ago Denmark 

 was covered with woods. These having been cut down, more 



