REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 161 



wlien properly displayed and conspicuously labeled, will bo one of the 

 most instructive and useful features of tbe botanical museum. 



The accompanying botanical papers, suggested by various recent in- 

 quiries and investigations, have been i>repared -with reference to the in- 

 terest of the topics discussed. 



FOREST-TREE CULTURE. 



Unquestionably one of the most important questions engaging the 

 attention of the American people is that of forest culture. The demands 

 of our rapidly-growing country have for many years so drawn upon the 

 resources of our native forests, which at one time seemed inexhaustible, 

 that we must now contemplate their early extirpation, and address our- 

 selves to the task of conserving what forests wo have remaining, and 

 providing new sources of supply. 



Much lias been written on this subject, but so difQcult is it for us to 

 realize the bearing of remote evils, that comparatively very few farmers 

 or land-owners have yet seriously engaged in the work of replenishing 

 their woodlands. The arguments for this work are strong and numer- 

 ous, and have been cogently presented by many writers. Many facts 

 have been observed, which appear to show that the presence of forests 

 has much to do with the rain-fall and climate of a country; thus, it is 

 said that the extreme dryness of Spain is due to the absence of trees ; 

 that many districts in Fxance have been materially injured by denuda- 

 tion ; that Palestine and many other iiarts of Asia and ]S"orthern Africa, 

 which in ancient times were the granaries of the world, are now deserts 

 or infertile regions in consequence of the loss of their forests. It is also 

 vStated that a beneficial change in climate and rain-fall has in several 

 instances followed the introduction of trees and plantations in regions 

 that were formerly destitute of them. Thus, it is said that in Lower 

 Egypt, where anciently rain never fell, the introduction and cultivation 

 of extensive plantations have been attended with the fall of a good deal 

 of rain, so that showers are no rarity even at Cairo. It is also affirmed 

 that in K'ew England and other, wooded sections the clearing up of 

 forests and cultivation of the soil have had the effect of causing the dry- 

 ing up of many springs and small streams. 



There are some who doubt the correctness of these conclusions with 

 respect to the climatic influences of forests ; but, as these influences 

 must be of very gradual operation and require observations over a long 

 series of years, the question may be considered open for future inquiry. 

 But, leaving that question out of view, there remain abundant reasons 

 to stimulate every landholder in our vast prairie regions to give prac- 

 tical attention to the subject. 



Trees are wanted for their fruits, for their shade and protection from 

 winds, for fuel, for use in building, fencing, and the mechanical arts. 

 Some trees are adapted to one of these x>urposes and some to another. 



The earliest tree-want, which is appreciated by farmers in a new 

 country, is the want of fruit-trees. Even this practical and personal 

 need too often fails to stimulate the farmer to immediate action toward 

 the formation of an orchard. But it is not with reference to the culti- 

 vation of fruit-trees that we now design to write. 



What kinds of forest-trees shall we attempt to cultivate is a question 

 often asked, and toward the solution of which we propose to ofier a few 

 thoughts. In an open -prairie region there is an immediate and urgent 

 want of trees for shelter and wind-breaks. Both man and the domestic 

 animals instinctively seek the grateful shade of trees during the intense 

 11 A 



