CONCLUSION. 



We are told in the book of Proverbs : " He that is first in his own 

 cause seemeth just • but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him." 

 I have stated in preceding chapters, with such precision as I could 

 attain unto, what I consider to be the effect of forests on the humidity 

 of the soil and character of the districts in which they exist ; but I 

 am aware that a compilation might be prepared of observations made 

 by men of science which might seem to support a widely-diflFerent 

 conclusion. I have given attentive consideration to all such to which 

 I have had access, and prepai'ed a statement on their apparent bear- 

 ing on what I have advanced ; but I refrain from inserting this, 

 not because I consider them unimportant, for I consider them equally 

 valid and equally important with many — I may say with any — which 

 I had advanced. I refrain from inserting this first, and mainly, because 

 I am unwilling to add to the expense and the bulk of the volume; 2ndly, 

 and the reason weighs with me almost as much as the first, I wish to 

 present the subject to my readers in as simple a form as I can, and 

 without complications which I do not consider necessary for my pur- 

 pose ; and I know of nothing which has been advanced as observations 

 made, or conclusions deduced by reasoning, or phenomena observed, 

 which are incompatible with what I have advanced. 



From what has been advanced it appears to be established as a fact 

 that there are cases in which an extensive destruction of forests has 

 been followed by a marked desiccation of soil and aridity of climate, 

 and some cases in which the replanting of trees has been followed 

 by a more or less complete restoration of humidity, — or the planting 

 of trees where there were none has been followed by a degree of 

 humidity greatly in excess of what had previously been observed; 

 that there are cases in which the rainfall within forests, or in their 

 immediate vicinity, has been perceptibly greater than in the open 

 country beyond ; but that there are also cases in which it is alleged 

 that the desiccation of some lands once clothed with forests and 



