210 EFFECTS OF FOEEST YEGETATION ON CLIMATE. 



the hill districts, and that as the felling proceeds these conse- 

 quences may eyentuallj be felt even in the Can very delta." * * 



He suggests " the extensive planting of cinchona, teak, cork, 

 \eng{ij,hla.ck-vrood., Australian and other valuable trees"; and 

 concludes with naming other countries in which destruction of 

 forests has been attended with injury. He quotes the Ural in 

 Eussia, Cura^oa in the West Indies, Hissar in Northern India, 

 and the Orange Eiver, in Africa, giving the names of reporters 

 on each. 



The preservation of forests in the Northwest Provinces of India 

 was also long before the dates last-mentioned subject of earnest 

 inquiry. The late Dr. Falconer, Colonel Cautley, and others, 

 addressed the Government as to the necessity of active inter- 

 ference, and succeeded in inducing some vigorous measures for 

 repressing the evil ; so that for nearly forty years the value of 

 forest vegetation has been recognized, and its reckless destruction 

 condemned. In closing my argument, I think I needed nothing 

 more satisfactory than the proofs furnished by Dr. Bidie and Mr. 

 Markham, of the '• Effects of Pores t Vegetation on Climate," 

 and of occasional injury by its Destruction. 



But before I conclude, it may be useful to ofter a few practical 

 remarks as applicable to this Colony; indeed, I should be surprised 

 if some of the preceding remarks had not already been accepted 

 in that direction. 



Not wishiug to leave the question undefended or without satis- 

 factory evidence as to its truth, I have endeavoured to strengthen 

 my own conclusions by calling in a host of witnesses, who have 

 shown by examples gathered from the East and West Indies, 

 North and South America, Northern and Southern Europe, and 

 Africa, that "Forest vegetation" has considerable effects on 

 what in the extended sense is called " Climate^' ; that it exerts a 

 protecting influence as well as an assisting power in preserving 

 and increasing the supply of water, and that it is of vast impor- 

 tance to an arid region that such an influence should be encour- 

 aged and maintained. 



Partly from these considerations, as well as from motives of a 

 commercial kind. Commissions have been appointed and Legis- 

 lation called into play, in some of our Australian Colonies, and in 

 various other countries, especially in British India, for the conser- 

 vation of the Deodar and other forests, and this has been a 

 subject of discussion for a quarter of a century. (See Dr. Cleg- 

 horn's notice in British Assoc. Eeports for 1865, p. 79.) Now, 

 there are many circumstances connected with climate in this 

 Colony which seem to parallel some of those which distinguish 

 the phj^sical character of India in relation to its floods and 

 droughts. It may appear singular, but it is held by many close 



