legislation, without further delay, to guard against the calamity 

 of a total destruction of such a magnificent estate entrusted to 

 the hands of our people. Besides its contributions to the mani- 

 fold necessities of the agriculturist, the builder, in naval architec- 

 ture, the construction of railroads, the arts, medicine, and the in- 

 numerable smaller demands of domestic economy and the varied 

 industries of the world, the influences of this great pine belt upon 

 the climatic conditions and the salubrity of this coast are even 

 of more far reaching importance to the interest of the commu- 

 nity at large, extending far outside of its confines. Eearing its 

 horizontally outspreading limbs high up into the atmospheric 

 ocean, their branches densely clothed with the long, slender 

 leaves, the forest of these trees present to the canopy of heaven, 

 for many hundred of square miles, an unbroken sheet of perpet- 

 ually active vegetation, whose forces at such an altitude affect a 

 constant attraction to the fleeting clouds, causing them to deposit 

 their life-giving and supporting humidity, in grateful showers 

 over a very large area with wonderful regularity during all 

 seasons. To this fact is due the delightful climate of this part of 

 our country, equalizing its temperature particularly in tempering 

 the rigors of the long summers of a region near the tropics. Dur- 

 ing the great progress in meteorological science of late years, the 

 fact has been established that in their exercise upon the condi- 

 tions of the atmosphere as regards the precipitation of its mois- 

 ture, the pine trees stand unrivalled amongst all other trees of 

 the forest. Eobbed of this protection, the hills and plains of the 

 Gulf region, now blooming and clothed with the richest verdue, 

 would be arid and parched, presenting as forbidding and austere 

 an aspect as those of the denuded coasts of Africa along the 

 Mediterranean sea, devoid of productive power, and unfit for the 

 habitation of civilized man, smarting under the scorching rays of 

 the sun. The efforts of nature are ever directed to recuperation 

 in its aims to insure the existence of different forms of the living 

 organisms from generation to generation. To secure to our pos- 

 terity the blessings enjoyed by us by its bounty, in assisting 

 these efforts as dictated by her laws, is a stern duty imposed 

 upon us. Its discharge in the prevention of a wanton destruc- 

 tion of our forests, and the adoption of measures regulated by 

 the light of science, common sense, and the proper regard to the 

 future of our State, should engage the attention of every intel- 

 ligent and patriotic citizen, appealing particularly to the owners 

 of the soil. Of little importance to agriculture and industry, are 

 the other species of pines found in this region. Of considerably 



