PLANTING FOR SHELTER 83 



These rivers are now frozen across only at long 

 intervals. There is reason to believe that the 

 climate of Germany is now much warmer than 

 it was in ancient times. The removal of the 

 forests has allowed the rays of the sun to reach 

 the soil and warm it. 



In the British Isles it is unlikely that forests 

 can produce any general effect on the climate, 

 nor is it desirable that they should have any 

 such effect. The soil requires no protection 

 from the rays of the sun and the heavy rainfall 

 preserves the springs without the assistance of 

 forests. No injury to the general climate is to be 

 anticipated from an increase of woodland area ; 

 but in those hilly situations which are naturally 

 inclined to suffer from rain, large plantations 

 may locally have an injurious effect by lowering 

 the temperature and increasing fog and damp- 

 ness. 



In this climate woods have a great value in 

 some cases, because they ameliorate local con- 

 ditions by giving a protection against the force 

 of the wind. On many hill-sides the sheep 

 spend most of their time in a gale of wind. A 

 substantial protection from the wind increases 

 the health and comfort of the sheep and gives 

 the more nutritious grasses a chance of growth. 



