CHAPTER III. 
EFFECT OF FORESTS ON A COUNTRY. 
The Effect of Trees on Humidity, Evaporation, Rainfall, and Prevail- 
ing Winds. — Nebraska’s Generous Labor in Behalf of the Repro- 
duction of Trees, and her Reward. — Humidifying Influence of the 
Pacific Winds on Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.—The Humidity of 
Forests, to What Due.—The Theory of Condensation in Connection 
with Trees, — Evil Results of Forest Destruction in Santa Cruz. — 
The Serious Results of Forest Destruction to Manufacturing Indus- 
tries. — The Tree-planting of Lower Egypt and Consequent Rain- 
fall.—Moisture Distribution of Kansas and Nebraska, to What Due. 
— The Agricultural Benefits Derived from Tree-planting in Aus- 
tralia. —The Australian Desert’s Reclamation Possible. —The De- 
struction of Forest-lands for Agricultural Purposes in the United 
States. — Decrease of Lumber Supply and its Increasing Value. — 
Precautionary Measures Discussed. 
Tue effect of trees upon the rainfall of a country is 
no longer disputed by the intelligent. A good-sized 
peach-tree will give off eighteen pounds, or about two 
gallons, of moisture every twelve hours. The evapora- 
tion of the earth through trees is immense; the roots 
often draw from springs themselves, and throw off 
through their branches great volumes of humid air. 
Those who have watched the effect of forests on rain- 
fall say that, by commencing at the edge of any dry 
belt, the forests, and consequent rainfall, may gradually 
be extended across the whole of the dry belt. The exper- 
iment is being tried in Nebraska, and I believe with en- 
couraging results, as the rainfall is gradually increasing. 
No state in the Union has done more to replace her for- 
ests, and I am happy to say Nebraska is already reaping 
the rewards of her generous labor in behalf of the trees. 
