INSECURITY OF OUE FORESTS. 



THE American continent is so vast, and so large a part 

 of it is still covered with wood, that men are not ready to 

 believe there is any danger of exterminating its forests. 

 Supposing them to be inexhaustible, they are entirely 

 indiscriminate in their method of clearing them, and 

 treat them as if they were of no importance further than 

 they subserve the present wants of the community. 

 They are either reckless or ignorant of their indispen- 

 sable uses in the economy of nature, and seem purposely 

 to shut their eyes to facts and principles in relation to 

 them which are well known to men of science. Our 

 people look upon the forests as valuable only so far as 

 they supply material for the arts and for fuel, for the con- 

 struction of houses, ships, and public works ; and as there 

 is not much danger of immediately exhausting the sup- 

 plies for these purposes, the public mind remains quiet, 

 while certain operations are going forward which, if not soon 

 checked by some very powerful restraint, will, before the 

 lapse of another century, reduce half this wide continent 

 to a desert. The science of vegetable meteorology de- 

 serves more consideration than it has yet received from 

 our professors of learning. This, if fully explained, would 

 teach men some of the fearful consequences that would 

 ensue if a country were entirely disrobed of its forests, 

 and their relations to birds, insects, and quadrupeds would 

 explain the impossibility of ever restoring them. Man 

 has the power, which, if exercised without regard to the 

 laws of nature, may, at no very distant period, render this 



