52 
brooks that formerly were wont to turn mill-wheels, and do 
much valuable work, are changed into irregular mountain 
torrents, and not only lose their character of usefulness, but 
become dangerous and destructive. 
These effects have grown so marked, that the European 
governments have been forced to recognise them. They 
have even undertaken some measures of protection against an 
evil so serious, and have attempted to restore the wood of 
those summits, which still retain a sufficient amount of soil. 
In some instances the effort has proved successful; and 
streams that had become so capricious as to be worthless, are’ 
found to regain their former constancy and fulness, with 
the restoration of the forests which had been ruthlessly cut 
down. 
Few subjects are of more importance to us, than a right 
understanding of the disastrous effects of the constant and 
rapid destruction of our native forests. Kvery year the 
country is moreand more denuded; and at length, the high 
price of lumber drives the wood-cutters farther and further 
up into the mountains. Regions so precipitous as to have 
been hitherto secure from intrusion, are now reached by the 
axe. From the windows of the rail-car, the traveler sees 
upon the distant summits great gaps in the forest, where 
some adventurer, more enterprising than the rest, has found 
means of bringing down in a season the growths of acentury ; 
and soon we shall find it too late to protect our rural districts 
from the dangers which already threaten them. 
Pror. J. J. STEVENSON referred to the changes just de- 
scribed, as illustrated in Ohio, where the rivers, from being full 
during the whole year, are now very low for months together. . 
The actual quantity of rain is not less than it was; but the 
surface of the country being cleared, the water runs off or 
evaporates, instead of remaining in the soil, and draining 
away gradually, as it did before the removal of the forests. 
Pror. SEELY also made some remarks, confirming the 
' views expressed by Dr. Stevenson. 
