101 
It will be seen that in discussing the subject as to whether the destruction of 
forests does or does not diminish rainfall, the authors quoted do not always approach 
the subject in the same way. I proceed to give a quotation from Mr. Itibbentrop, 
one of the most eminent of living foresters, in which he shows, from his point of 
view, that it is not incorrect to state that destruction of forests does diminish 
rainfall. At the same time, it will be observed that Mr. Ribbentrop has refused to 
dissociate from the main question that of the local effects of the forest cover, which 
he has a perfect right to do. For the purposes of the present essay, I have 
endeavoured, for the sake of clearness, to enumerate issues somewhat in catalogue 
form, but that method may have the effect of leading a careless reader to forget 
that the subject of "rainfall and forests" possesses many ramifications, and a 
certain amount of repetition in dealing with the subject is unavoidable, and, 
perhaps, desirable, in order to emphasise various points of view. 
There can be no doubt, whatever may be said to the contrary, that the widely-spread notion that 
forests tend to increase the rainfall, and that in a warm climate the denudation of a country diminishes its 
moisture, and, consequently, its fertility, is correct. As already pointed out, the theory is proved by history 
and ruins ; and the rapidity with which changes in the climate of different countries have taken place, 
entirely forbids that such sudden modifications should be ascribed to cosmic causes. We accept other 
scientific problems on much more flimsy evidence : but, in this instance, a large number of us suddenly 
swerve aside, and follow a school which starts new theories on partial observations, and leaves re- evaporation 
out of consideration. Ebermayer found, from experiments made, that during July, the hottest month in 
Bavaria, only 6 per cent, of the rain which fell percolated 2 feet deep into the ground in the open, against 
61 per cent, which filtered down to the same depth in a forest, the ground of which was covered with 
complete and undisturbed vegetable mould. 
In the one case, the water rapidly runs off into streams and seas by sudden floods and freshets, and 
this, too, when the whole atmosphere is surcharged with moisture. In the other instance, the water is 
stored for re evaporation through the foliage of the, forests, and is given forth at a time when the air is 
drier and the winds do not blow from the sea. It may be safely stated that more than half the rain which 
is thus stored in the ground is re evaporated by the trees in time of need.* 
3. THE VASTNESS OP RAINFALL CONDITIONS. 
The quotations that I give should need no comment from me ; but I would 
draw the attention to the point that, in Australia, to go no further, the fact that the 
conditions for a fall of rain may originate in a distant part of our planet is very 
imperfectly realised. I have travelled much in New South Wales, and I am sure 
that it would conduce to a better understanding of the subject by our people if they 
would lay to heart this fundamental and wide-reaching truth : 
When we reflect that our rain storms are of a very wide extent, sometimes over 1,000 miles in diameter, 
and may take their origin and bring their moisture from distances of 1,000 miles and more, the thought that 
man, by his puny efforts, may change their action or modify it in any way, seems ridiculous in the extrerne.f 
Mr. Russell saysj : 
The monsoons make or mar our climate. Given the monsoons full of moisture, and rain falls 
abundantly all over the State. If the monsoon wind is dry, it is also very strong, sending frequently and 
persistently strong hot nor'-westers, which bring no moisture, but dry up the countiy like veritable 
siroccos. Droughts are the result of special energy generated in equatorial regions, and distributed over 
the world by the trade winds and monsoons. The source of this energy, he thinks, is outside the earth ; 
but a full knowledge of it will not be obtained until all countries combine to trace the history of these 
destructive forces. 
" Forestry in British India," by B. Eibbcntrop, C.I.E., 1900, p, 44. 
t Hazen, op. cit. 
t Report to Legislative Assembly, 31st November, 1898. 
