166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



if I do not agree with him, and that he will be perfectly 

 willing to accept the theory of an inexperienced young agri- 

 cultural orator, unused to expressing his opinion, and perhaps 

 unused to properly forming one. 



I think, sir, that the winters were just as cold, the streams 

 just as dry, and the changes of temperature just as great, 

 when the Pilgrims landed on these shores, as they are to-day. 

 I have not the slightest doubt of it. I know that there are 

 periods of years in which the rainfall is so great as to actually 

 impede the progress of agricultural labor. That has occurred 

 in my day. From 1856 to 1864 we were absolutely drowned 

 out here in Massachusetts. There were not, in Essex County, 

 twenty-five thousand tons of well-cured hay made annually 

 during all these years. The rainftill was so great that it was 

 impossible for the farmers to secure their crops, and it did 

 seem as if the day had come when the windows of heaven 

 were open and the floods were again upon us. Since that 

 time, we have suffered in another direction ; we have not had 

 half rain enough. The changes of heat and cold moreover 

 were as great, in the olden time as they are now. Think of 

 that cold, hard, intense winter of 1816, — where were your 

 forests then? The driving, piercing cold of 1620, — where 

 were your forests then ? Why, we are told that — 



" The rocking pines of the forest waved : 

 This was their welcome home." 



The land was one great forest. "What is this story of 

 drought in the olden times, when the corn-crops were all cut 

 off ? What is that record of the Pilgrim History of Plymouth, 

 when their crops failed them, because " no water fell from 

 heaven " ? 



Is it entirely true that we depend upon the continuance of 

 our forests for our rainfall? Do you really believe,— let me 

 ask 3^ou, INIr. Chairman, in all sincerity, — do you really 

 believe that it would have been one degree warmer, day 

 before 3'esterday, or yesterday, if there had been one inter- 

 minable forest from Minnesota to Haverhill? 



Dr. Wakefield. I do, most assuredly. 



Dr. LoRiNG. Well, sir, I do not. I do uot believe it 

 could have affected the temperature here even half a degree. 



