290 THE SEASONS CLIMATE AND HEALTH 



While it is true that plants may survive when transplanted to 

 a region having a climate somewhat different from that of their 

 native haunts, they do not thrive; they develop only as dwarf 

 and inferior specimens. The cactus and yucca, natives of our 

 arid western plains, often survive when transplanted to the 

 fertile plains of the Mississippi valley, but they little resemble 

 the sturdy specimens growing in their native climate. 



To the 1 extent that man is able to control and modify the 

 climate of a given region, he can raise successfully plants of 

 almost any species anywhere on the face of the earth. In 

 the green houses and conservatories of the temperate zone, 

 tropical vegetation grows with luxuriance in the dead of winter. 

 When irrigation is applied to our western plains, they blossom 

 forth with all the productiveness of the most favored regions 

 of the earth; yet, all that man has done is to devise a plan for 

 supplying the moisture to take the place of the rainfall which 

 is insufficient (Fig. 217, Rainfall Map). 



313. Animal Life Dependent upon Climate. Animal life 

 is also largely dependent upon climatic conditions. The higher 

 forms of animal life, however, show greater power of adaptation 

 to changed climatic conditions than do the forms of plant life. 

 While it is true that the polar bear of the arctics and the monkey 

 and the parrot of the tropics live side by side in the zoological 

 gardens of the temperate zone, it is not from choice, nor are 

 they healthy, vigorous, happy, or comfortable while doing so. 

 In a large measure man must provide a modified climate in 

 order to save their lives. To the extent that either plants or 

 animals become adapted to changed climatic conditions, we say 

 that they have become ACCLIMATIZED. 



314. Man's Relation to Climate. By nature, man is one of 

 the hardiest of animals. His power of endurance equals, if, in 

 fact, it does not exceed, that of any other form of animal life. 

 A lone man on foot has been known to run down and tire out 

 the wild horse and the wild turkey. From choice, man dwells 

 contentedly in almost every climate on the face of the earth. 

 He even delves into the bowels of the earth and soars aloft 



