24 



the atmosphere is a check upon that dry condition which results in 

 parched earth, and the general dry condition which we have so ex- 

 pressively denominated "drought." 



But even here the end of the forest usefulness has not been 

 reached. Coming from above downward, the heat from the sun pen- 

 etrates our atmosphere readily, and during the day accumulates in 

 the earth more rapidly than it escapes. This constitutes a safeguard 

 which the farmer seldom has fully appreciated. Allow this heat to 

 escape and the surface of the earth to become reduced to, or even 

 near to the temperature of surrounding space, and it would mean de- 

 Istruction of most of our crops. It is the heat of the sun which ia 

 stored in our earth that prevents this reduction in temperature, and 

 it is the moisture in the air which holds this life-preserving heat lor 

 our benefit. In this respect the value of the forests as producers of 

 watery vapo-r is simply incalculable. 



The network of roots descending from tree, shrub or herb, renders 

 the earth more porous, and to a certain extent produces a sieve-like 

 condition, by means of which the water percolates to the depths 

 below. 



We have not yet alluded to the mere mechanical action of the dead 

 leaves in retaining moisture as they strew the forest floor. A very 

 simple experiment will make all this quite plain. Take a basket of 

 leaves in the autumn, just as they have fallen from the trees, weigh 

 them and note the weight. Now place that same basket, with the 

 same contents, out where the snow of winter may fall upon it and 

 melt, as the spring advances. Then weigh it. You will be surprised 

 at the increase of weight. Yet it is caused solely by the water which 

 the leaves have retained. Now, instead of limiting this experiment 

 to a surface of a foot or two, imagine the effect of such a collection of 

 leaves extending over miles of forest floor, and the vast importance 

 of even the dead leaves appears. Every pound of that water, too, is 

 acting as a protection against the dry condition of the atmosphere 

 which prevails during a drought. The leaves, however, have not only 

 been gathering moisture themselves, but they have first aided in the 

 safe storing of the surplus water beneath the earth's surface, and 

 then they have been the most efficient agent in preventing the loss 

 of that water by a rapid and premature evaporation. Furthermore, 

 as these same leaves decayed they have furnished carbon dioxide gas 

 to the water, as it trickled down into the earth, and to a very 

 marked degree aided thus in the dissolving of certain kinds of racks 

 into the condition of soil. 



This vista of the usefulness of the forest to the farmer is endless. 

 It is endless simply because the order of things existing in nature 

 is the result of forces operating through almost endless years, until 

 each has become adapted to the other. The touch of the human 



