192 HEAT OF THE WATERS : CLIMATE. 



thoughtless management, and from the gradual 

 and almost total extirpation of the forests, by 

 which means one of the chief conditions was re- 

 moved, on which depended the moisture of the 

 soil and air, — next to the sun, the most effectual 

 promoter of fertility. 



It seems, too, that the chmate of Germany was 

 formerly different, and more severe than at present. 

 There are strong reasons for this belief. In the 

 time of the Romans, Germany was covered with an 

 almost unbroken forest. 



It abounded in swamps ; its atmosphere was 

 moist. Many plants, as the chesnut, the vine, the 

 finer sorts of fruit, and probably many of the 

 cereal grains, which require a high summer tempe- 

 rature, could not grow two thousand years ago, in 

 places where they are now thriving, since the 

 clearing of the forests has favoured the draining 

 off of the water, and by the removal of the excess 

 of moisture has improved the climate, and en- 

 hanced the fertility of the soil, If however the 

 destruction of the still numerous forests, with which 

 the mountains and many of the plains of Germany 

 are clothed, continues, the brooks and rivers 

 must dry up more and more during summer, 

 because the wet that falls in winter and spring 

 will find a freer outlet. The summer showers will 

 probably diminish as the heat of the summer 

 increases, and the fruitfulness of the soil must 



