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fell as it does in the fields. It seems to sink in, and it is undoubtedly held there in 

 this country. "Wherever the forest has its proper condition it has a heavy bed of 

 leaves, as well as clustering circumflexes of young trees. Wherever that is the case 

 through the forests, the floor will hold a great deal of water, which will not run 

 away or poui- out in rivers and creeks for days and weeks, as it would in the case of 

 a field of land. That I know to be a fiict from a life experience. I am sure, 

 however, that we are indebted to Mr. Fernovv for bringing it to our 

 knowledge that the German Government have just collected the results of 

 a series of experiments on the operation of forests with a view to finding how 

 much the forest retards the washing of the land and how much the 

 forest assists in producing rain. They have taken a very large portion of forests 

 and have had it carefully examined by military engineers over a period of yeai's. 

 The result is, that they think that it has always had as much rain as the cleared 

 districts, not far off, in the same country. Mr. Pernow sent this statement to the 

 New York Garden and Forest, a very valuable publication, and it appeared there 

 last month. I shall get it for my next report, and we shall all have an opportunity 

 of seeing it. ISTow, I would like to say one or two words on this differing of the 

 amount of rainfall. The question as to whether forests increase or do not increase 

 the rainfall is not so much regarded by those who remember this country as it was 

 long ago. It is not the quantity of rain. Sometimes we find we get a great deal 

 too much rain — rain that washes away things. What we want is the old-fashioned 

 genial showere which we used to have coming along in May and the early part of 

 Jane, when we needed them, and we used to find, that so long as we kept a 

 considerable quantity of bush we got plenty of rain, while now in some districts 

 we do not get enough. It is more a question of the distribution of moisture than 

 the amount of it. Now, as my subject to-day is not so much concerning forests as 

 wind breaks, I would like to say a few words on that matter. I have, in the course 

 of my examination of this subject, got into communication with a great many 

 people throughout the country, who have sent me word as to what they have found 

 is actually the case in their respective district^ from the resnlt of wind brealsB or of 

 any old forest lines that may still exist. I should like, if it will not weary you too 

 much, to give you an idea of these communications. 



The following statements give the effect of wind-breaks where they have been 

 established throughout Ontario. They are from the township clerks of the various 

 localities, gentlemen who are well informed of the progress of the adjacent country : — 



Dawn. — When fall wheat is protected by the woods around, the frost does not 

 seem to hurt it nearly so much as when out in an open field. Both fruit and crops 

 thrive better where thus protected. 



Esquesing. — I have myself observed the beneficial effects of planting trees closely 

 for shelter as a protection to fruit and grain crops. 



Burford. — Wind-breaks are very beneficial, but when grown take about all the 

 substance from the soil from two rods on each side. Nevertheless, they are grand 

 for sheltering fall wheat and clover. 



Blandford. — Have observed great benefit from such shelter. Have seen fine 

 crops of fall wheat and clover sheltered by belts of timber from the west and north 

 winds, while in more exposed situations such crops were comparative failures ; ateo 

 consider such shelter of great benefit to orchards; the trees seem to thrive better 

 when so sheltered, and the more tender varieties can often be successfully grown. 



Mersea. Where fields and orchards are sheltered, especially from the east winds, 

 the effect is very marked. Whei-e — as here — the snow fall is light and generally of 

 slio-ht duration, fields protected by the forests produce much the best crops of wheat, 

 and the orchard derives a like benefit. 



East Flamboro'. — The effects of trees planted for wind-break, or shelters for 

 fields especially west winds in spring, so far as I have observed, have proved bene- 

 ficial to crops in general. 



JSferth Easthope. — .The experiment of wind-breaks here has been good, especially 

 in the matter of orchards. 



