
16 
have begun to ameliorate their climatic conditions by the pea of 
trees and groves. 
Fully aware that defects in a report like the following must become 
apparent to any one who peruses it with interest and finds one or the 
other important question imperfectly answered or altogether overlooked 
—defects which are due to many different causes, too many to recount— 
I still hope that they will not prove such as to overshadow the value of 
the work as a whole for the purpose for which it bas been done. Love 
and zeal, at least, have been brought by all the contributors to their 
work in behalf of the great national interest which is connected with 
the “ backbone” of this continent. 
B. E. FERNOW. 


