naturally disappointing. Another illus- 
tration of the risk of inadequate experi- 
ment and insufficient information is the 
ease of the much discussed Catalpa tree. 
This tree (speciosa variety), in Ameri- 
ca, has produced almost fabulous re- 
sults, as its timber is extremely durable, 
and reaches maturity in from ten to 
fifteen years. But whether because the 
right variety has not been secured, or 
the conditions of soil and climate have 
not been judiciously selected, the re- 
sults so far have been, on the whole, 
distinctly discouraging. Yet, even as 
it is, we learn from the departmental 
hand-book on “Tyree-Planting in New 
Zealand” that the Catalpa can be grown 
successfully in most parts of New Zea- 
land, where the soil is moderately fer- 
tile, free, and open, the situation shel- 
tered, the rainfall not less than 30 
inches per annum, and where the ther- 
mometer does not fall below 20 deg. 
Fahr. A great many districts in New 
Zealand fulfil these conditions, and 
considering that the timber produced 
by the tree is almost indestructible, 
and the tree comes to maturity at so 
early an age, it is highly advisable that 
experiments with it should be extended 
and that the results should be recorded 
and cireulated as lavishly as possible. 
And all this, I need hardly say, can be 
done far less etrectively and easily by 
the individual than by the State. 
But I will have written to very little 
purpose if IT have not long ago convinced 
my readers that the work of Afforesta- 
tion and Reforestation is not only a re- 
sponsibility that can most easily be 
assumed by the State, but is at the 
same time a public duty of the most 
urgent and importunate character. In 
the later sections of this series of 
articles I have dwelt at length upon 
the directly material losses entailed by 
the destruction of the world’s forests, 
ana the dangers involved in the rapidly 
approaching and practically inevitable 
timber-famine. My own conviction is 
that in the long run the worst of those 
Oo 
in) 
Evils of Deforestation with which these 
articles have dealt are the injuries in- 
flicted upon a country’s climate and 
soil and productive powers through 
the indiscriminate cutting out of na- 
tive bush and the failure to replace it, 
and to combat such evils is the mani- 
fest duty of the State. But  per- 
haps the simplest way of enforce. 
ing my arguments, as they have now 
reached a natural close, is to recapitu- 
late them briefly. It is an artificia] 
method, I am well aware, but it may be 
none the less effective for that. 
THE VENGEANCE OF TANE, 
In the first place, then, let us 
briefly reconsider the value of trees 
from the standpoint of the climate and 
the productivity of New Zealand. Ac- 
cording to Professor Schlich, — forests 
produce the following effects:—They re- 
duce extremes of temperature by increas- 
ing the humidity of the air, and thus 
tend to increase the rainfall; they help 
to regulate the water supply by en- 
suring the steady feeding of springs, 
and thus they tend to reduce the vol- 
ume of floods; they help to prevent 
landslips, and the silting up of rivers, 
and they arrest moving sand; _ they 
afford shelter to vegetation from strong 
winds; and by aiding the generation of 
oxygen and ozone, they tend to improve 
the hygienic conditions of life. From 
these considerations it is easy to infer 
the nature and the extent of the harm 
done to a country by the destruction of 
its indigenous forests. To describe 
briefly the character of these injuries, 
let me quote from a distinguished 
American authority, Professor Trot- 
ter:—‘When the forests are cut down, 
delicate adjustments in the balance of 
Nature are destroyed. The soil is ex- 
posed to the disintegrating effects of 
the atmosphere. In summer it is baked 
te dryness; in winter it rapidly loses 
heat by radiation. In colder regions 
the loosening effects of frost are read- 
ily seen in an exposed soil. In a re- 
gion denuded of trees the supply of 
springs becomes intermittent, no longer 
