THE BEAYEK IN ITS RELATION TO 

 FORESTRl. 



By Philip Cox, Ph. D. 



Read Feb. JO. J 906. 



/~\T no period in the history of tli^ jiroviiice has there been so 

 T general a recognition liy its people of the great value of its 

 forests, both direct and indirect, as at present. This con- 

 viction has been forced upon them by several considerations, 

 amonu which a few may Ije mentioned. The general decrease of 

 productive forest-areas and consequent increase in the value of 

 timber and wood products, have directed attention to the forest, 

 and stimulatetl interest therein. The l>eneficial influence of forest- 

 areas on the climatic conditions of a country, and their relation to 

 the ])roductions of the soil, are being better understood as more 

 attention and study are given to the scientific principles involved. 

 The agency of the forest in contributing to the water supply of a 

 country, which of late years is being utilized for power i)urposes, 

 has l)een fully established. 



It requires only a superficial knowleage of these princii^les to 

 enable one to draw the following inferences: — 



1. The forest screens the land from the direct rays of the sun 

 and retards evaporation of moisture. 



2. It increases the average annual rainfall not only over its own 

 tloor t»ut surrounding agricultural districts. 



3. It exercises a cooling influence and renders therlimate more 

 humid. 



4. Adding to the aimual pi-eci})itation and reducing evapora- 

 tion to a minimum, it conserves the water supply of a country, 

 more especially if the water-sheds and sources of streams be forest- 

 clad. 



5. Local drouglits in farming districts must decrease in 

 freijuency and severitv according to the extent cf surrounding 

 forests. 



