USEFULNESS AND BEAUTY. 383 



temperature and the other meteorological conditions of the regions 

 they shelter. All other things being equal, the temperature of well- 

 wooded countries is perceptibly less elevated and more uniform than 

 that of dry and open districts. The amount of humidity which is 

 retained on the surface of the soil by wide-spread woods is consider- 

 able ; it results from the lesser evaporation of the waters, the abundant 

 transpiration of the leaves, and the heavy rains which inundate the 

 forests during the tropical summer. Forests, like mountains, seem to 

 attract the clouds. So the plains which lie on their borders are ever 

 better watered and fertile than those whose horizon no obstacle 

 encumbers. 



Thus, then, in the forests, in 'this bright and beautiful world of 

 vegetation, most of the pleasures which man can derive from external 

 nature are garnered up, and most of the lessons he requires are written. 

 All kinds of precious grace and teaching, says Mr. Ruskin,* are united 

 in this link between the Earth and the Stars : wonderful in universal 

 adaptation to his need, desire, and discipline ; God's daily preparation 

 of the earth for him, Avith beautiful means of life. " First, a carpet 

 to make it soft for him ; then, a coloured fantasy of embroidery 

 thereon ; then, tall spreading of foliage to shade him from sun heat, 

 and shade also the fallen rain, that it may not dry quickly back into 

 the clouds, but stay to nourish the springs among the moss. Stout 

 wood to bear this leafage : easily to be cut, yet tough and light, to 

 make houses for him, or instruments (lance-shaft, or plough handle, 

 according to his temper) ; useless it had been, if harder ; useless, if 

 less fibrous ; useless, if less elastic. Winter comes, and the shade of 

 leafage falls away, to let the sun warm the earth ; the strong boughs 

 remain, breaking the strength of winter winds. The seeds which are 

 to prolong the race, innumerable according to the need, are made 

 beautiful and palatable, varied into' infinitude of appeal to the 

 fancy of man, or provision for his service : cold juice, or glowing 

 spice, or balm, or incense, softening oil, preserving resin, medicine of 

 styptic, febrifuge, or lulling charm and all these presented in forms 



* Ruskin, ' Modern Painters,'' vol. v., pt. vi., c. i., g 3, 4. 



