308 ARBOR DAY 



leaves which was a perpetual reservoir of water for 

 springs and evaporation; aided by the treading of 

 the hard surface, the rain fall, if the same as of old, 

 rushes off at once, sweeping the soil into the Mis- 

 sissippi delta. The dry winds absorb not only the 

 ancient humidity of the air, but drink up the sub- 

 soil evaporation, so that our winters are longer, 

 more changeable, and unendurable. Corn can 

 hardly be safely planted till late in April, and drought 

 too often ruins all in spite of our best efforts." 



MASSACHUSETTS 



PROFESSOR SARGENT, of Harvard University, who 

 has given this question as much study as any one in 

 America, says: "As moderators of the extremes of 

 heat and cold, the benefits derived from extensive 

 forests are undoubted, and that our climate is gradu- 

 ally changing through their destruction is apparent 

 to the most casual observer. Our springs are later, 

 our summers are drier, and every year becoming 

 more so; our autumns are carried forward into 

 winter, while our winter climate is subject to far 

 greater changes of temperature than formerly. The 

 total average of snowfall is perhaps as great as ever, 

 but it is certainly less regular and covers the ground 

 for a shorter period than formerly. Twenty years 

 ago peaches were a profitable crop hi Massachusetts; 

 now we must depend on New Jersey and Delaware 



