RELATIONS OF TREES TO TEMPERATURE. 



Not long since, in one of my rambles in Essex County, 

 Massacliusetts, whicli is one of the most open and cultiva- 

 ted sections of the country, I entered a little valley near 

 the sea, comprising about iifty acres of well-cultivated 

 land, surrounded by a sott of amphitheatre of hUls, which 

 were covered with a dense forest of pines and firs. It was 

 occupied by an intelligent farmer, whose careful observa- 

 tion had taken note of many things which are overlooked 

 by the generality of his class. He remarked that his 

 seed-time and harvest were several days earlier than on 

 the farms in the open country, and that he had cro- 

 cuses and tulips in his garden, on the south side of the 

 surrounding wood, so early as to astonish his neighbors in 

 the outer world. In regard to the relative temperature 

 of the woods and of the open plain in summer, he re- 

 marked that.it varied according to the time of day or 

 night. The woods were cooler than the open country, 

 in clear, calm weather, from about nine o'clock ixi the 

 morning until near noonday ; after this time the heat in 

 them increased more rapidly than in the open country, 

 and at the time of dew-fall it was greater in the woods, 

 and continued so during the early part of the night. If the 

 sky were cloudy, not much difference could be perceived 

 at any hour in the temperature of the two situations. In 

 cold and windy weather the woods afforded a comfortable 

 shelter, and this shelter made them apparently warmer, 

 even when the thermometer would indicate no difference. 



The theory of my rustic friend contains the general re- 



