11 



There is no doubt as to the results which are sure to follow the 

 destruction of the forests of a country. The examples are too 

 many and too sad, to make it necessary that they should be mul- 

 tiplied. 



Italy, Switzerland, France, and Spain, and other countries fur- 

 nish us with plenty of examples to show us the sad results which 

 are sure to follow a too great destruction of the forests. ( Not only 

 have vast areas in these countries been washed bare of their soil, 

 and the slopes cut and gullied'by the rushing torrent*, thus ren- 

 dering particular regions next to worthless, but the resources, 

 and prosperity, and power of the whole State have also.been most 

 seriously reduced and crippled, by the reduction of the forest 

 areas below what the laws of nature allow. 



A little more than a century ago France had, by estimate, 

 about 42,000,000 acres of forests — an amount not greater than 

 should have been permanently retained ; but in 1860, so great had 

 been the destruction, that the forest areas of France were re- 

 duced to 20,000, 000 acres; thus greatly enfeebling the empire, 

 and well causing anxious forebodings in regard to the century to 

 come. 



Russia is already beginning to suffer because she has not prop- 

 erly eared for her forests. Is'ot only is wood beginning to be 

 scarce and dear, but her great rivers, the Volga and others, the 

 great thoroughfares of commerce, are drying np, on account of 

 the removal of the forests from their sources. 



Spain, once so flourishing and powerful, allowed her forests to 

 be destroyed ; and when she would rebuild her fleets and enlarge 

 and perfect her navy, the price of timber was so high that the 

 treasury had not sufficient means to purchase the needful supply ; 

 and so she lost her prestige upon the sea, and her power and do- 

 minion in the world. 



I said that we are cutting our forests faster than they grow # 

 And if measures be not taken to inform, and interest, and instruct 

 the whole people, in regard to the relation which the forests sus- 

 tain to our material interests, if there be no check to the destruc- 

 tion now going on in nearly all parts of our country where forests 

 still remain, we, like the nations of the East, shall soon begin to 



