16 
agriculture was more or less affected. There were localities 
in Canada where forests had been wholly destroyed, where 
now they were unable to raise the same kind of grain as in 
former years ; therefore it was evident that the total clearing 
of forests was injurious to agriculture. He was very glad that 
this paper had been read, because it would now be spread 
abroad and carry authority with it, and would no doubt 
do a vast deal of good. In his opinion, forests were useful 
in filtering the water which passed into the stream. The 
trees themselves filtered it, and so did the leaves on the 
ground, and the water was more pure than when it fell 
direct on the soil and ran straight into the river. There 
was no need to interfere with cultivated land, but rows 
of trees might be planted by the side of streams, which 
would not affect farming operations, and would conduce 
to the growth of fish, There was no doubt that the 
greater amount of forests on the face of the earth the 
greater the rainfall. Last year the legislature of the 
province of Ontario passed an Act incorporating a forestry 
association, the object of which was to set out trees for the 
benefit of the country, and preventing the destruction of 
those around the fields and along the sides of the roads. 
The vote of thanks having been passed unanimously, 
The CHAIRMAN said he had had much pleasure in 
taking the Chair, and he begged to acknowledge the 
kindness with which he had been received, not only there, 
but on every occasion since he had come to England as 
Danish Ambassador. 
LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET 
AND CHARING CROSS. 
