212 J. H. MAIDEN. 



not been fully considered in some of the public discussions 

 that have taken place. The term " Forests and Rainfall" 

 has been adopted by many writers because of its com- 

 pactness, but if its use becomes misleading then it should 

 be amplified. We want to carefully separate two issues. 



1. The effect of forests and other vegetation in increasing 



the rainfall. 



2. The effects of the same in conserving moisture. 



I do not approach the subject with any but the most 

 elementary meteorological knowledge, but I have had much 

 experience of Australian forestry. Taking an extensive 

 territory, it appears to be indisputably proved that forests 

 do not increase rainfall ; it is fully as well proved that they 

 conserve the rain that falls, and therefore every effort 

 should be made to save them from unnecessary destruction. 



A thoughtful paper by Mr. Walter Gill, 1 Conservator of 

 Forests of South Australia, is well worthy of perusal. He 

 deals with evidence gathered from official reports and 

 other sources, in different countries, in regard to the effects 

 of forests and their destruction on the rainfall and available 

 moisture generally. The paper is temperately worded and 

 contains much sound advice, which should be well pondered 

 over by "every individual member of an intelligent 

 democracy." 



Let me invite attention to Bulletin No. 7 of the Forestry 

 Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, entitled 

 "Forest Influences." It contains masterly papers by 

 Professors M. W. Harrington and B. E. Fernow, to which 

 I am much indebted. 



There is so much postulation, theory and uncertainty of 

 observations, in regard to the whole subject, that I am 



1 " Deforestation in South Australia ; its causes and probable results.' 

 Adelaide Meeting, Aust. Assoc, for Adv. of Science, 1893. 



