DR. ANGUS SMITH ON PEAT. 293 



is well known to all who have gone much to the hilly parts 

 of Scotland and Ireland on the sea- coasts, and, we may say, 

 England also, that the trees seem to avoid the sea-breezes 

 even at a considerable distance from the shore. They lean 

 from the sea even in a great deal of Lancashire ; and on the 

 northern sea-coasts, if defended by a wall, they rise up 

 as high as the wall, and then appear at a distance as if 

 sharply cut off by a hatchet. 



There are, however, sheltered places even near the west- 

 ern Atlantic where trees grow well ; and in these let wood 

 be grown, for beauty as well as for use. So valuable and 

 beautiful is a forest, that it would be wise to grow wood, 

 even if fuel could be had at a much cheaper rate. Wood 

 has uses so numerous, that it will not be attempted for a 

 moment to argue as if peat could ever be an actual rival, 

 except for a limited purpose and within a limited range. 



For want of wood, I have long been inclined to think, 

 the great empires of the Euphrates fell, perhaps even 

 Egypt, Syria also ; and it is very clear that Asia Minor, 

 Greece, Italy, and Spain have all suffered : some of them 

 would of necessity have ceased to be powers in the world, 

 if for no other reason than this want of heat so important 

 for the numerous demands of civilization. I have even 

 come to the conclusion that Germany owes as much to her 

 forest-cultivation as to any one individual fact in her eco- 

 nomy. She has treasured her strength, and her people 

 have been kept in comparatively comfortable houses, al- 

 though even she would have done well to have treasured it 

 more. Had we not been possessed of coal, our neglect of 

 forests would have been fatal to us. How long a dried-up 

 and burnt-up land, as much of Spain is said to be, must 

 wait before it has its forests restored, must be the painful 

 experience of millions to come. 



We have burnt up our forests ; and with us the planting, 

 inclosing, and care are a great expense. Nature seems 



