STATE HORTICXTLTURAL SOCIETY. 449 



in general. Anything pertaining to the whole United States is 

 also applicable to the State of Minnesota. 



It would certainly be a great mistake to take it tor granted 

 that the climate as well as the financial condition of the country 

 would be benefited by an increasing removal of the forests, and 

 the utilization of the soil on which they were growing for horti- 

 culture and agriculture. On the contrary, and this should never 

 be lost sight of, a climate as good as possible, and the utmost 

 prosperity in agriculture and horticulture, can only be expected 

 to be prevalent in a country where a reasonable jDroportion of 

 open plains and extensive forests exist, may the same be large or 

 small. A large number of species of animals find a home in 

 these forests; they furnish many useful products and form land- 

 scapes exceedingly beautiful to the eye; they are rich sources 

 from which to obtain various kinds of wood, which are absolutely 

 necessary for the maintenance and promotion of our civilization; 

 they also form valuable reservoirs for the precipitations of the 

 atmosphere. During the time of these precipitations, and a long 

 time afterwards, these extensive forests check the immediate 

 drain of the water so received, and discharge the same only by 

 degrees, partly through the medium of springs, into the rivers 

 and lakes, partly through evaporation into the air. In propor- 

 tion to the degree of the temperature and the amount of water con- 

 tained in the air, a larger or smaller amount of water is obtained 

 through evaporation, which has a tendency to moderate the ex- 

 cessive heat of the summer season, $nd guarantees the plants re- 

 freshing dew and rain. Forests are also capable of resisting 

 hurricanes. Currents of air, coursing along in furious career, 

 whenever they encounter forests in their rapid course, are con- 

 siderably moderated, so that they pass afterward over the open 

 country with greatly diminished force. A roaring, rushing, 

 whistling or yelling noise is observed in these forests during the 

 tremendous attack of the tempest; trees are bending, inclining 

 and wavering, and their branches are cracking. The forest is de- 

 fending itself against the fury of the hurricane with great 

 success. The success of its resistance is proi)ortionately greater 

 where bluffs or chains of mountains support the same. 



It is no doubt true that cognizance of the great value of forests, 

 more particularly the great value of the preservation of a most 

 favorable proportion of the same with the open country, with a 

 view to regulation of the climate and the water courses as well 

 as in regard to their influence on agriculture and horticulture, 

 57 



