55 



lack of atteiitiuii iu the presevvatiou aud cultivation of forests, eveu for 

 their own good aside from the good of science. Forestrj- is a subject of 

 very recent agitation iu America and especially is it so in Indiana, but it 

 is growing steadily. 



President lioosevelt voices this condition of the knowledge of forestry 

 iu the opening sentence of his message bearing on the subject. He says, 

 "Tublic opinion throughout the United States has moved steadily toward 

 a just appreciation of the value of forests." Trusting that you all are 

 familiar with wliat he says about forestry in his message. I shall, express- 

 ing my appreciation for such eminent recognition of it. pass to the dis- 

 cussion of rlie coniu^ctive phases mentioned at the beginning. 



Forestry as a science issue, it seems to me. is far-i'eaching in its 

 intluences. I think with consistent reason it can l)e shown that tht^re is 

 scarcely an industrial or intellectual life which forestry does not affect 

 directly or indirectly. 



Geography and forestry are closely connected iu matters of climate, 

 di-ainage aud surface coutuur. Forests by their presence have marked 

 intluences on climate iu governing the phenomena of temperature, moisture 

 and storms. It is asserted by students of the subject that the denudation 

 of forests is the cause of the growing extremes of temperature, violent 

 atmospherii- changes, changed precipitation, moisture waste through 

 heightened evaporation and the unhindered flow over the surface to the 

 streams. 



The arguments ai'c: First, the forest foliage, as a transpiratory agent, 

 is a great soui-ce of moisture to the atmosphere; second, the foliage l)y 

 its shade prevents the sun's rays from striking the earth's surface and 

 thus prevents evaporation: third, the forest litter, httnius and roots, col- 

 lect, hold and store the rainfall for the gradual and constant resource of 

 water for streams and springs; fotirth, the lack of forest litter, hiunus and 

 roots permits the rainfall to flow quickly over the surfaie to the streams 

 and away, thus facilitating the drying up of springs and streams and re- 

 stricting the climatic agents. 



In addition to the facts stated al)ove. deforestation means the uninter- 

 rupted sway of the winds to carry destruction with them and allows the 

 sun's rays unbroken to overheat tlie surface aud cause abnormal atmos- 

 pheric conditions resulting in violent storms. 



I neeil only to remind you that the climatic e(iuilil>rium is different 

 from ten ye.-irs ;igo. Tlie temperature extremes for the year 188(5 were 



