American F'orkst Congress 45 



and timber interests of some sections of the South 

 have mihtated against agriculture in various ways — 

 not to mention the effect on the waterfall — and the 

 injury resulting from overflows and freshets. 



The disastrous results of the latter, caused by the 

 removal of the forests along the banks of the rivers, 

 cannot be learned from any statistics. The report 

 made to our Committee of Agriculture shows a dis- 

 tressing condition, and one that appeals strongly for 

 Federal and State legislation. Many valuable farms 

 have been impaired in value, and some utterly de- 

 stroyed, by the sand and debris washed down by the 

 overflows. Cities and villages that were not affected 

 years ago are now often flooded with water, eight to 

 fifteen feet deep. All this shows the importance of 

 forests to agriculture, and appeals to the American 

 people to spare the trees, and will in time — not far 

 off — compel the State legislatures, as well as the 

 Federal Government, to take action in the premises. 



We learn from the experiences of other nations the 

 consequences of the continued destruction of the 

 forests. Palestine, Egypt, Italy and France have seen 

 some of their populous regions turned into a wilder- 

 ness, and their fertile lands into deserts. The danger 

 here is greater than many suppose. Immediate action, 

 both for prevention and restoration, is needed. 



''Bernard Pallissy," the famous 'Totter of the Tuil- 

 leries," one of the most profound men ever produced 

 in Europe, plead for the wood in France as follows : 



Having expressed his indignation at the folly of 

 men in destroying the woods, his interlocutor defends 

 the policy of felling them by citing the examples of 

 divers bishops, cardinals, priors, abbotts, monkeries 

 and chapters, which by cutting their woods have made 

 three profits ; the sale of the timber, the rent of the 



