446 ANNUAL EEPOKT. 



TEEE CULTUKE.* 



BY DR. RENGGLY, OF LA CROSSE. 



Forests and Their Relation to Climate — Hydfograpliy, Agriculture 

 and Horticulture. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



All of us are very well aware that the extensive territory of 

 the United States of America is the most recently cultivated 

 country. Only a few centuries ago the same was a wilderness 

 in its entire circuit. In almost, immeasurably extensive dimen- 

 sions, more particularly in the hilly and mountainous regions, 

 all the land was covered with luxuriant forests, whose origin, 

 growth and temporary partial decline was left to nature and its 

 unrestrained activity. Tranquil waters in the shape of large 

 and small lakes, and flowing waters in the form of springs and 

 large and small rivers, passed through the country from and in 

 all directions. This mass of water and its flow was at that time 

 nearly symmetrical. Expansive, treeless prairies made their 

 appearance with surprising rapidity, similar to the small and 

 large deserts of Africa, with this remarkable difference, however, 

 that instead of being sandy, dry and bare of vegetation, they 

 present, in combination with a soil enriched largely with humus, 

 a growth of grass marvelously luxuriant, and a lower strata of 

 soil abounding in water. This latter peculiarity caused the soil to 

 become marshy to a more or less extent. These level prairies, 

 existing in unbounded expansion, are chiefly located in the cen- 

 tral regions of this vast territory; no hills, mountains or trees are 

 visible, and furious hurricanes visiting these deserts periodically 

 exercise their absolute authority; by reason of which state of 

 things a prosperous growth of trees appears to be absolutely im- 

 possible. In those districts of the country which are covered 

 with a more or less dense growth of timber and where an abund- 

 ance of water exists, a damp and rugged climate prevails, the 

 same as everywhere else on the surface of the earth. The cli- 

 mate of our country must have been, during the time of its 

 wilderness, in a large measure a damp and inhospitable one. 

 The country was nevertheless at that time abundantly provided 

 with animals of difl'erent species. Multitudes of fiish and ani- 



^^■Tliis article, procured from the author by Mr. J. S. Harris, to be read at the Annual Meet- 

 ing, was not presented for lack of time. — Skc. 



