FOEEST CULTIVATION ON THE PLAINS. 661 



the Kansas does not receive any drainage from the mountains proper; 

 the upper tributaries of the Arkansas and the Platte catting off the en- 

 tire mountain drainage, and covering all the district at the immediate 

 eastern base. 



There is every encouragement, indeed, to efforts directed toward the 

 utilization and retention of the actual rain-fall of the central i)ortion of 

 the plains, that portion near and between the existing Pacific Eailroad 

 lines. And the modes suggested are chiefly such as are intrinsically 

 calculated to repay any expenditure, personal or general, whether ex- 

 pected general consequences shall be realized or not. Timber-cultiva- 

 tion is in itself profitable, and its success certain, so far as any require- 

 ments of soil and climate are concerned. It may, therefore, be under- 

 taken by the isolated settler, by the colony where association is most 

 readily accomplished, by the railroad for the i^rotection of its own line 

 and the improvement of its own lands, and by the States and the Gen- 

 eral Government, as a condition of the original couveyeuce of title. lu 

 either and all these cases the sufficient remuneration for any expenditure 

 can scarcely fail, and the general result will exhibit benefits proportioned 

 to the extent of the co-operation by which any work may be undertaken. 



To an agriculturist, the theory and the practical results of mulching 

 are so constantly recalled in this connection that we cannot forbear a 

 further reference to this point. On soils unbroken and hard in surtUce 

 even the abundance of eastern summer rains is almost wholly throw'u 

 off, and they suffer from drought in a climate with an average annual 

 fall of 4 inches per month. But the same surface, if covered with loose 

 materials, if in forest, or if under deep and thorough culture, scarcely 

 suffers at all in the most extreme seasons. The moisture is simply re- 

 tained and utilized, perhaps 10 or 50 per cent, only being thrown off, as 

 against SO per cent, for the naked and unbroken field. And the spe- 

 cifically mulched surface retains abundant moisture always, the surplus 

 X)enetrating deeply, when it falls, and capillary attraction slowly but 

 steadily bringing it to the surface, so protected, for months afterward. 

 Equally striking is the retention of moisture in the woodlands. Every 

 condition requisite to the i)enetratiou of the earth by the falling rain, 

 and to 'its subsequent return to the surface as wanted, is more decisively 

 afforded by the dense forest than by the most skillful mulching in culti- 

 vation. 



The permanence of woodland springs and the slow but steady flow of 

 forest streams are familiar facts ; ami the change which absolute re- 

 moval of the forest makes on any surface of the Central States is very 

 striking. Denudation of the uplands of central New York or New 

 England has already worked serious evils, greatly reducing the fer- 

 tility of exposed lauds. Similar results have been felt in Germany, 

 and efforts to restore forests to these denuded tracts are found to en- 

 counter almost insuperable diSiculties. The increased severity of the 

 winds, and the caustic and absorbent character of these winds at very 

 low or high temperatures, often destroys an incipient growth of forest- 

 trees, which would have been safe if protected. Some such difficulties 

 may very likely be encountered in planting on the plains, but that they 

 are not insuperable may be inferred from the feet that in Germany, as 

 in New England, something of the same difficulty exists in restoring for- 

 ests to tracts known to have been originally clothed with a heavj- 

 growth of trees. The growth of forests, in nature, is the slow work of 

 centuries, and special causes of injury, resulting from man's agency, 

 steadily invade and diminish these primeval growths. The most con- 

 stant danger on this continent is from fires, and the savage tribes are 



