PRACTICAL ARBORICULTUREL 
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PHENOMENAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS—DO FORESTS 
CONTROL THEM? 
In 1903 the Atlantic States, where evaporation is abundant and_ precipi- 
tation is usually quite regular, for the time changed climatic relations with the 
arid West. \\hile the plains and prairies, which are far removed from sea- 
coast, and the ordinarily cloudless skies of Colorado were replaced with dense 
masses of oversaturated air currents, which poured their contents in disastrous 
floods along the slopes of the Rocky Mountains and the plains and prairies as 
far as the Mississippi River, meantime a prolonged drought in New York and 
New England contributed to support the forest fires, the sky beine obscured by 
dense bodies of smoke. 
WHAT CAUSED. THESE GCHANGED CONDITIONS? 
The theory accepted by scientific authorities in regard to moisture and 
aridity is that water evaporated by heat ascends into the atmosphere, forms 
clouds, which wind currents bear inland from the ocean. As temperature is re- 
duced, precipitation occurs. Having parted with all surplus moisture during 
the early part of their journey, there is none left with which to moisten the 
earth throughout the central portion of the continent, and thus it is arid. 
But there are influences which control the deposit of moisture of which 
authorities are ignorant. 
ELECTRIC INFLE ENCE. 
Cloud movements, ability to retain moisture and precipitation are largely 
caused by electrical energy, and this is controlled by obstacles in the pathway 
of air currents, such as mountains and forests. 
LIGHTNING. 
Electricity passes between cloud and earth to maintain an equilibrium, 
gently at times, as every twig in a forest bears its part in aiding this convey- 
ance, vet with violence when a single tree beeomes the object mohtely feeeives 
and communicates the bolt. 
Through the influence of a great forest. clouds are attracted and caused to 
precipitate part of their moisture. 
