1856. 



NEW ENGLAXD FARMER. 



299 



For the New England Fanner. 



LECTURES, 



On the Relation of Trees to the Atmosphere and Climate, as 

 affectini; an equal Supply of Rain, through all the different 

 Seasons — The Equalization of Moisture on the Surface of the 

 Earth— The Salubrity of the Climate— The Fertility of the 

 Soil. 



The subscriber proposes to deliver two lectures, 

 "0?i Trees in Relation to the Earth and the Atmo- 

 sphere^^' as stated above, in which he will endeavor 

 to establish the following points : — That 



1. Trees are useful and indispensable agents in 

 theeconomy of moisture for equalizing the humidity 

 of the soil, and for promoting an equal supply of 

 rain throughout the year ; and their usefulness de- 

 pends on their situation. 



2. They pump up moisture by their roots from 

 beneath the surface, and exhale it into the atmo- 

 sphere ; and they arrest the floating vapors of the 

 atmosphere and shed them upon the soil. Hence 

 they keep both the soil and the atmosphere in a 

 moister state then they would preserve without 

 them. 



3. They loosen the soil to a great depth by 

 means of their roots, and thus open it to the chem- 

 ical influences of the atmosphere. 



4. They act as conductors of the electric fluids 

 of passing clouds, and cause them to discharge their 

 rain upon the earth ; but their usefulness in this re- 

 sjject, depends on their elevation. 



5. Were the earth entirely stripped of trees, our 

 wet and our dry seasons would be periodical, and 

 dependent entirely on meteorological changes ; 

 droughts, especially in summer, would be exces- 

 sive. 



6. Were the earth entirely covered with trees, 

 the moisture both of the soil and the atmosphere 

 would be excessive, and all the lowlands would be 

 lakes or morasses. 



7. Were the continent deprived of its forests in 

 tracts, some of a hundred miles square being desti- 

 tute of trees, while others of equal extent were 

 densely wooded, the country would be liable to 

 squalls, whirlwinds, and other convulsions of the 

 atmosphere. 



8. Were the hills all laid bare of trees, and 

 turned into arable land, while all the vales and low- 

 lands were covered with forest, the trees would be 

 in no respect serviceable to agriculture, answering 

 the purpose, neither of protection nor fertilization. 

 They would receive all their washings from the 

 hilb, but they would impart nothing to them in re- 

 turn ; all their foliage would droop and decay at 

 their own roots. 



9. Were the hills covered with trees, and the vales 

 and the lowlands converted into arable lands, — that 

 is, were the highest points of the country's sur- 

 face covered with trees, and the lowest points de- 

 voted to tillage — the arrangement would be such 

 as to secure the greatest advantage, from their in- 

 fluence. Under these circumstances (were they 

 universal) there would be comparatively but httle 

 drought ; the trees would answer for protection in 

 the best possible manner, and all their foliage 

 would contribute to fertilize the plains and valleys 

 below them. 



10. Trees in elevations temper the severity of 

 cold in winter, and of heat in summer, and thereby 

 equalize the climate; while in the valleys and low- 

 lands they produce the opposite effect. 



11. Trees on elevations break the violence of 



the winds, and lessen the liability to storms and 

 hurricanes, by preserving an equilibrium of heat 

 and moisture on the surface of the earth, and by 

 promoting an electric equilibrium in the atmo- 

 sphere. 



12. Trees growing in the lowlands serve to re- 

 tain moisture where there is already an excess of it ; 

 on elevations they retain the moisture iri places 

 which would otherwise be dry and unproductive. 



Those above enumerated are some of the points 

 which the subscriber intends to establish ; but they 

 are only a few of the vast number of the ser\ices 

 performed by trees for the benefit of man. He will 

 show not only the general value and indispensable 

 necessity of forests to climate, and to the purposes 

 of agriculture, but he will also prove that their ad- 

 vantages depend on their situation, and that in 

 some places they are positively injurious. He will 

 point out the way in which they should be disposed, 

 in order to produce the most beneficial influence 

 upon climate and upon soil, how they may be made 

 to keep dry places moist, barren places productive, 

 and to secure the double purpose of irrigating and 

 fertilizing the soil. All these points, and many oth- 

 ers, he will establish by well authenticated facts, 

 and by the testimonies of eminent travellers, natur- 

 alists and philosophers. 



He will dwell particularly on the services of trees 

 in their right situations, as electric and chemical 

 agents, and show how, by the proper distribution 

 of them, were the whole community to work in 

 concert, our climate might be permanently im- 

 proved. Our people are suflficiently intelligent and 

 public-spirited, to act in concert for the judicious 

 planting and clearing of forests, if it could be dem- 

 onstrated to them, that there is indeed one way of 

 clearing and planting which is useful, and another 

 way of clearing and planting which is decidedly inju- 

 rious to soil and climate. These points the subscril3er 

 believes he can successfully maintain. If he is mis- 

 taken in some of his views, the value of his attempt 

 will not be diminished by a few errors of theory, if 

 his efforts do but lead the joublic to give this sub- 

 ject their earnest attention. WiLSON Flagg. 



Andover, Mass. 



For the New England Farmer. 



HOME-MADE GUANO. 



Much as has been said and written upon this 

 subject, there are still some who neglect this 

 source of enriching the farm and garden, viz., the 

 scrapings of the poultry-roost. I have used it for 

 two years, and am fully convinced of its utility as a 

 fertilizer. For all kinds of garden vegetables, I 

 consider it excellent. Last season I used it in the 

 hill on corn, but had not quite enough to go over 

 my piece, and the result was, there was fully one- 

 third more corn where it was applied than where it 

 was not, though I put only a small handful to a 

 hill. 



It was prepared as follows : — One-half hen ma- 

 nure, one-half decomposed swamp muck, and one 

 bushel of ashes to four of the mixture, put in th? 

 day it was used. The ashes should not be put in 

 until it is to be used, as they will set free the am- 

 monia and thereby cause a loss. In conclusion, 

 save what you have at home, before going abroad 

 after fertilizers ; so says common y^nse. 



Mechanic Falls, Me. S. TenneY 



