22 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



devote more attention to forests. If all the fertilizing material 

 were saved we might cultivate forests that would vie with those of 

 California. 



Leander Wetherell had been much interested in the remarks on 

 drought. The clearing of our forests seems to have a decided 

 effect on our springs and streams of, water in time of drought, 

 making them dry up more quickly ; but the average rainfall does 

 not vary from year to 3"ear as much as is generally supposed. 

 Cutting away the forests allows the water to escape more rapidl}'. 



The Indians were mainly hunters, and not corn-growers to any 

 large extent, and the3' burned off certain areas to give the squaws 

 an opportunity to cultivate the ground, but not enough to destroy 

 the hunting. The speaker had kept a meteorological register, but 

 had not been able to see any change in the climate from cutting 

 off the forest. There seems to be a wide difference among writers 

 as to the connection of drought with the clearing of land, but all 

 are agreed that forests retain water and prevent springs from 

 drying up. Farmers will not apply fertilizers to forests until thej' 

 have more than enough for other crops. The farmer who plants 

 in well-tilled soil, and takes good care of his crops, will, now as 

 heretofore, be successful. 



Robert T. Jackson said that if all the trees are removed from 

 any region the rains will run off in a few days, and evaporation 

 will be more rapid, and if the forests cut awa}' were sufficiently 

 extensive the climate will be changed. Climate is much affected 

 by the ocean currents. The western shores of the Atlantic are 

 much colder than the eastern shores in the same latitude ; the 

 climate of Labrador, for instance, is much more severe than that of 

 the British Islands. The temperature of Newport, R.I., is ten 

 degrees highcf than that of Boston, and the season is three weeks 

 longer. The Irish 3'ew will flourish there, and the waters contain 

 many marine animals not found north of Cape Cod. All these 

 differences are due to the Gulf Stream, which warms the adjacent 

 countries. 



Hon. Marshall P. Wilder said that the influence of climate on 

 all animal and vegetable life is such that a thorough knowledge of 

 it is necessaiy to success in cultivating plants or breeding animals. 

 He expressed his deep interest in the welfare of the Society, which 

 lies very near his heart, and in promoting the interest of these 

 meetings. Such discussions are the great improvement of the age. 

 This Society has exercised more influence than any other horticult- 



