FOREST TREES. 13 
face and geological formation of large tracts in the 
Mississippi valley will, doubtless, operate to mitigate 
or prevent such result; yet, when the slopes of the 
Rocky Mountains are stripped of their forests, and 
the sources of the Mississippi, and its tributaries, 
bared to the influence of sun and wind, who can say 
how great may be the evils arising from the diminu- 
tion of the streams and the irregularities of the rain- 
fall? The prospective scarcity and high price of 
timber, surely consequent upon the present devasta- 
tion, is, of itself, a sufficient reason for planting for- 
ests; but when to this is superadded the probable ruin 
of habitable districts, and deterioration of climate in 
the whole country, the demand on patriotism is im- 
perative for decisive and immediate action. 
2 
