CHAPTER 11. 



The Benefits xvhioh would accrue to the Soil and, Climate of 

 the Colony from a General System of Tree Planting. 



That large bodies of trees have a direct influence on the atmospheric 

 ■changes of a district or country is, I think, in these days of so much 

 istatistical and other reliable information, now a recognised fact. If we 

 look back and examine ancient, mediaeval, and modern history, we there 

 find many very noted examples of decrease of rains, dried up rivers, 

 extended deserts, and depleted populations, simply from the clearing of 

 extensive forests ; while again, on the other hand, it has been observed 

 that where large tracts of country have been laid under a crop of trees, 

 and which, previous to this having been done, were designated diy and 

 comparatively unproductive parts, small streams of water have been 

 found where none formerly existed, and the general nature of the districts 

 has been improved to such an extent that they have become highly favor- 

 able for agricultural purposes, and hence more able to sustain an increased 

 population. I now note a few of the influences which would flow to 

 this country by extensive planting on its surface. 



Trees would give Shelter. — In the agricultural parts of this colony, 

 especially in the Northern Areas, where extensive tracts of most excellent 

 ■country are open to every blast of wind which blows, it is self-evident 

 that the planting of belts of trees in different directions through them 

 wotild have a most beneficial influence on the crops which are produced 

 upon the ground. The direct result of such belts would be that the hot 

 winds, which at present are the scourge of the country so far as their 

 effects upon vegetation are concerned, would, if they were not in time 

 •subdtied altogether, be at all events considerably softened by coming in 

 contact with the cooler atmosphere arising from the damper surface of 

 ■the ground shaded by the trees, and therefore pass hai-mlessly over the 

 country ; and thus the crops would not only be more certain, but would 

 grow more luxuriantly, and consequently the yield M'ould be propor- 

 tionately larger. Again, another important result which would arise to 

 the agricultural community from the planting of trees on the plains 

 would be, that shelter would bo given to stock both from the hot winds 

 •of summer and the storms and cold blasts of winter. 



Our Soil would he Improved. — To have good agricultural soil, we must 

 have a large proportion of vegetable matter in it. With this fact before 

 us, it is at once apparent that the annual deposit of the leaves and bark 



