REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 29 
perimental stations have been established, not merely for the instruction 
of their students but for original investigations that shall extend the 
boundaries of knowledge beyond their former limits, and discover facts 
that may be turned to practical account in cheapening methods of man- 
agement or increasing the value of products. The best of these results 
should every year be judiciously digested and prepared for publication 
for the benefit of our own citizens. 
At some of these stations, especially in Prussia and Bavaria, the gov- 
ernment has instituted a series of comparative observations for the study 
of the climatic effects of woodlands upon agriculture, and those in 
charge of these systems have expressed an earnest wish for codperation 
in the United States. Among the agricultural colleges already estab- 
lished through Congressional patronage, and at several of the meteoro- 
logical stations maintained at the national expense, these observations 
could be established at very little expense beyond the cost of instru- 
ments. It should be the duty of the person charged with the study of 
Forestry to organize, direct, and unify these observations, and to digest 
and publish their annual results. 
Tt should be remembered, in this study of climatic effects, that the 
general humidity of our atmosphere is much less than that of Europe, 
for the reason that the westerly winds prevailing in both regions pass 
over the Atlantic influenced, in some cases in notable degree, by the 
Gulf Stream before reaching Europe, while our westerly winds have their 
moisture largely condensed before passing far inland, by being carried 
over high mountain ranges, so that in their further course over vast 
regions they yield no further moisture as rain, and the surface remains 
arid, and in many places not susceptible to cultivation. Hence the con- 
clusions to which European observations might lead would not find ap- 
plication with us; and if we would know the laws that govern our cli- 
mate, and the influences that may tend to ameliorate or impair it, we 
must work out the problem ourselves. 
There are about twenty journals wholly devoted to Forestry published 
in various parts of the world. Of these, British India, Russia, Sweden, 
Denmark, England, France, Austria, Spain, and Italy have each one, 
Switzerland two, and Germany theremainder. There cannot be a doubt 
but that every one of these contains every year much new information 
that would have practical application, and that would lead to useful re- 
sults in this country if known. Some of these journals are distinguished 
for the ability with which they are conducted, and, passing over all that 
is local or special, a great deal of general interest to our citizens. This , 
information should be judiciously prepared and given to our people for 
their benefit. Besides these special journals of Forestry, the trans- 
actions of learned societies, and the scientific journals of more general 
field, often contain articles of practical interest. This is especially true 
of those devoted to the study of natural history; the injuries done by 
noxious insects and their remedies; the preservation of timbers; the 
