260 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



although every tree, for fully a mile in the direction of its source,, 

 has been removed, and the ground is in cultivation. This is one 

 of some half dozen similar cases where I have observed the effect. 

 An old man of 80 told me that on his plantation in North Caroli- 

 na, there was a marshy spot that kept a small stream running part 

 of the year, but in the summer dried up : he cut the trees from all 

 around this spot and cultivated the ground ; when, lo ! the muddy 

 water that had formerly, by a hard struggle, pushed its way up 

 to the light of day, burst forth in a large, clear stream, apparently 

 invigorated by the light of God's sun, and has continued to fur- 

 nish an abundant supply, summer and winter, for the last fifty 

 years, although all the adjoining property is now in cultivation. 



In summing up — or, in other words, to succinctly mention the 

 various causes which have, combined, produced this change in 

 our climate — I will mention them in the order of their importance, 

 as I view it : 



1. The natural and artificial drainage of our ponds and lakes. 



2. The increase of our domestic animals, and consequent in- 

 creased consumption of water and grass, the pastures being quite 

 bare by the first of July, and the ground as dry as a chip. 



The cultivation of the soil is rather an advantage than other- 

 wise, .in my opinion ; for during the night, in hot weather, it 

 becomes cooler than the surrounding atmosphere, and if the 

 earth is loose the air will penetrate it and part of the moisture it 

 contains be condensed, and, as it is protected from the direct rays 

 of the sun, it will not evaporate as rapidly as the dew on the grass, 

 but is retained to nourish the plants growing in the soil ; and you 

 will find the ground moist in a well cultivated field, when that of 

 the pasture is as dry as powder. 



If the destruction of the forest trees is one of the causes else- 

 where, as I before remarked, it will not, I am certain, apply to 

 Illinois ; and I very much doubt if it exerts any influence either 

 way, — believing that in those instances where such was thought 

 to be the case, other and more important causes have been over- 

 looked. It appears to me to be another "trout and bucket of wa- 

 ter" affair ; evidently, some wise man has risen and propounded 

 the question, and all his brother philosophers have been bending 

 their energies to solve the problem, taking it for granted that it 

 has been correctly stated. 



Hillsboro', Ills., March 31, 1S74. 



