FOREST PLANTING. 109 



it as my opinion that there is no change in their climatic laws. I 

 think there is a perceptible but irregular cycle of years, progressing 

 from extreme wet to extreme dry, and the reverse, but nothing else, 

 i account for the "mere opinion of old settlers," to which you refer, 

 as follows: These old settlers came from the East from moist, and, 

 more or less, humid climate ; ordinarily having frequent and often 

 excessive rains ; a dense, sticky soil. The change to a country of 

 exact opposites was very impressive. They noticed it most the first 

 year because so different. Memories of the old were fresh ; inconve- 

 niences of the new exaggerated. As the former faded from year to 

 year, the latter were surmounted one by one. Gradually he adapted 

 himself to the new order of things. Ditches, water, irrigation, bring 

 verdure. Trees spring up ; they ameliorate the climatic condition 

 immediately around. With shade, and green grass and gurgling 

 streams, the "old settler's" discomforts disappear as the memories of 

 former years fade in oblivion. Hence his opinion, in which he is as 

 honest as though it was a fact. 



" I know how common it is. I meet the assertion or the inquiry 

 almost every day. In vain do I cite the history of Eastern lands, 

 where they irrigate to-day as they did three thousand years ago, else 

 gather no harvest ; of Western South America ; of Mexico, old and 

 new ; of California, peopled by our own citizens, where they have 

 suffered for two years the worst droughts in twenty-four. 



" Forest planting will modify and ameliorate our climate, because, 

 to start the forest, water must be provided. The same supply that 

 nourishes the tree, brings grass or other verdure. The former breaks 

 the wind (one day's wind is more exhaustive of moisture than three 

 day's sun), the latter carpets and protects the earth. The little rain 

 that falls, instead of being immediately absorbed by and from the 

 bare, sun-parched and wind-lashed earth, goes to the tree and grass 

 roots, and for hours or days will cool the shaded air. The tree 

 requires less water the second than it does the first year. Its demands 

 diminish year by year, until finally its roots will have struck deep 

 enough to supply all its wants. The water supply that will enable 

 the planting of an acre of forest trees this year may safely be 



