Sa, 
316 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 

on the plains, and the change toward desiccation would therefore 
appear to be widespread, and is often, even by the least scientific 
observers, attributed directly to the decreased area of forest. That 
this may at least be a great part of the cause, is rendered evi- 
dent from the proved effect of the destruction of forest-land, in other 
and better known regions. Where countries situated in a too humid 
and chilly climate, have been to a great extent bared of forest, direct 
amelioration appears to have resulted, but where this denudation has 
been carried to excess, or where the rainfall is naturally not more 
than sufficient, disastrous effects have followed. The annual rainfall 
has been observed to diminish, or in places where it is small, the sum- 
mer precipitation has failed altogether. The climate has become more 
extreme, springs have disappeared, and districts formerly under culti- 
vation have had to be abandoned. 
741. Sir R. Murchison observed such effects in Russia. He writes: 
“The axe of the miner has been a prime cause of this increasing 
drought. The inhabitants of the Ural Mountains, complaining of the 
annual decrease of water, invariably refer this effect to the clearing 
away of the forest.” Dr. Strzelecki, speaking of New South Wales, 
says: “The destruction of forests has rendered the climate drier, and 
is threatening the interests of agriculture.”* Similar results have been 
observed to follow the clearing of forest lands in France, Spain and 
other countries of Europe, in Africa, in India, and elsewhere; and were 
the fact disputed it might be substantiated by other references. and 
quotations. Boussingault, Sir John F. W. Herschel, and other meteoro- 
logists, who have given the subject attention, concur in their estimate 
of its importance. 
742. The converse of this proposition can, however, fortunately be 
proven, and increased rainfall and general amelioration of excessive 
climates, have been found, to a greater or less extent, to follow the 
renewing of forests, and in some cases to result from the judicious 
planting of comparatively inconsiderable areas of trees. These results 
have naturally been observed, for the most part, in the old world; and 
especially where attention has been paid to forest growth and culture 
for some time. Babinet and Blangi concur in stating that rainfall has 
been caused in the previously rainless region of Lower Egypt by the 
* Quoted by A. Fryer, in a series of articles, entitled the Influence of Forests on Rainfall, published 
in “ The Sugar Cane.” Much valuable information on this subject has been collected by Mr. Fryer. 
See also memorial on behalf of the Board of Agriculture to the Legislature of Maine, 1869, 
