16 



have begun to ameliorate their climatic conditions by the planting 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 i^urpose for which it has 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. 



