12 ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, NOVEMBER 3, 1875. 



Hecent l-eports have also been given on the Bavarian forests, 

 and Professor Ebermeyer has written a work on the study of the 

 Physical Influence of Forests on the air and soil, their effect on 

 the climate, and their hygienic importance. 



The following is an extract from a letter by Mr M'Vean, 

 Japan : — ■ 



"Yokohama, 10th August 1875. 



"The other day the Minister of Public Works called and 

 asked if I could help him to get some Indian tree seeds. For 

 some years back in this country the people have been using up all 

 the timber to make charcoal, and have neglected to plant new 

 trees, so now they are nearly out altogether, and some of the 

 mines cannot be worked for want of coal and charcoal. What is 

 wanted specially are some quick growing trees suitable for the 

 making of charcoal, also some of the best hardwood trees of 

 different kinds, and generally the seeds of useful trees, and 

 especially hard woods." 



The New York Times declares that the reckless destruction of 

 the American forests is fast producing a condition in which there 

 will be occasion for real alarm. In the whole United States, we 

 are told, there is left but one really great tract of timber. It lies 

 in the far extremity of the country, and consists of about one-half 

 of Washington Territory, and one-third of Oregon. California 

 has perhaps about 500,000 acres. In New York there is no con- 

 siderable forest left, except the Adirondach Region. 



Railroads have been the means of levelling at least 150,000 

 acres of trees annually for ties, of which there are 60,000,000 yearly 

 required. Farmers are also enormous consumers of trees. The 

 extravagant waste of timber, caused by the felling of forests and 

 burning of the trees to bring the land under cultivation, goes on 

 still at a fearful rate. From 1860 to 1870 no less than 12,000,000 

 acres of forests were thus wantonly destroyed. For fuel, also, vast 

 tracts are cleared. It took 10,000 acres of forest to supply 

 Chicago with fuel for one year, 1871. The necessity for a Com- 

 mission of Forestry, and the need of efficient law for the preserva- 

 tion of forests in all the United States, needs no further argument 

 than these facts. 



Another important question is the growing of trees in our towns 

 and cities. This is most important not merely as regards amenity 

 and landscape beauty, but also in reference to hygiene. The Bir- 



