KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 43 



formerly wasted. Forest and fruit trees, millions in number, have been 

 planted, proving a valuable climate-ameliorating accessory to the cultivated 

 soil and ranker plant growth. 



From these combined causes came an increased humidity of the atmos- 

 phere, and a more general diffusion of moisture from the new water supply 

 held in reserve. Increased humidity was rapidly followed by plants and 

 grasses that find their best development in a humid climate. The tall blue- 

 stem grass, that could not withstand the dry, arid climate of the plains, now 

 follows in the wake of the settlements, and takes possession of the soil, on 

 which the short, wiry buffalo grass had so long flourished, because it alone 

 was capable of sustaining life on a limited supply of moisture. 



The tillage of the soil and growing of trees made the first breach in the 

 arid climate; moisture was sufficiently increased to favor the growth of the 

 blue-stem grasses. When these took possession, I believe their influence was 

 greater than all other causes combined, because by covering the major por- 

 tion of the country with a heavy coating, that greatly reduced radiation, they 

 removed one of the most stubborn agencies that the pioneer had to contend 

 with. It also, by penetrating the now shaded soil with its strong roots, caused 

 the former surface-hardened roof to leak, and enabled the soil to drink in 

 and retain moisture that had previously been denied it. 



Cultivation, tree planting, mulching, change of grasses, prevention of wide- 

 spreading and destructive fires — these are the great agencies that have 

 wrought such a wonderful change in the climate of the eastern half of Kan- 

 sas. Even if no more rain falls on the earth now than in the early days of 

 the State's history, it is better distributed throughout the season. We have 

 more gentle showers, more general rains, and while we may have as many 

 thunder storms, they are not marked with the severity of the years that pre- 

 ceded the civilization of our soil and climate. 



Our streams, that were then constantly fluctuating from dry river-beds to 

 overflowed banks, now have a more even flow, not feeling the effects of heavy 

 showers at once, and overflowing only in cases of extremely heavy rainfall. 

 The moisture held in reserve by the heavy grasses and cultivated soil keeps 

 the streams constantly supplied, and many of these that formerly contained 

 water only a portion of the year, now flow permanently. 



We have only to look around us, and note the grasses, the streams, the 

 soil, products, and the changes in plant growth, to find that nature has fur- 

 nished us the best po^ible evidence of the climatal changes that have taken 

 place in our State, and all the statistical data we may compile are valuable 

 only so far as they are corroborated by these evidences which nature presents 

 to us. 



Moist air is said to be three-fifths lighter than dry air at the same tempera- 

 ture. Cold dry air possesses greater density and weight than hot dry air. 



In the pre-civilized days of Kansas, when vegetation was very sparse, the 

 sun's rays poured down upon the unprotected surface, which, owing to its 



