102 



STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



attributed to their neglect of agriculture, and their wholesale 

 destruction of the native forests. 



The Barbary States, once a wooded country, and densely 

 populated, are now almost treeless, with a sparse population. 

 Tripoli once claimed over 500,000 inhabitants, but is now re- 

 duced to less than 50,000, while the climate, which was once 

 like that of Tennessee, is now so hot that steamships passing 

 near the coast are obliged to keep their decks constantly wet, 

 to preserve the lives of their passengers ; and no out of door 

 labor can be performed between the hours of 9 A. M. and 5 

 P. M. 



The Spanish Peninsula was also heavily wooded and densely 

 populated, but since the destruction of its forests has been 

 reduced to the condition of a fourth rate power. 



Granada, once noted for the fertility of its soil, its gentle 

 rains and perennial springs, with its noble forests of oak, and 

 other valuable timber, has now become an arid desert from 

 the same cause. This was the last place surrendered by the 

 Moors, and when forced to leave their loved country for the 

 sickly shores of Africa, they turned their faces in their eve- 

 ning prayers toward Granada, imploring heaven to restore to 

 them their lovely land. 



Persia, once the proud mistress of Western Asia, since the 

 destruction of its heavy forests has been reduced to the verge 

 of starvation. 



The terrible famine now raging in China, is attributed to 

 the destruction of her forests. 



When Napoleon landed his 40,000 veterans on the Delta 

 of Egypt, in 1799, he found scarcely a tree from Rosetta to 

 the first cataract of the Nile. They planted trees around 

 their camps, and when compelled by fate to leave the land of 

 the Pharaohs, the trees still remained as monuments to their 

 industry and taste. The rulers of the land profited by their 

 example, and set out millions of trees, which have worked 

 wonders in the climate ; for, while seventy-five years ago it 

 seldom rained in Egyi)t, the forests now condense the vapors 

 of the atmosphere, and refreshing showers are not unfrequent, 



