Ui IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 ^1^1^ |y5 |i.4 1 L6 6" FhofQgraphic _Scimces Carporalion 4^ 23 WIST MAM STMIT WnSTm,N.Y. I4SM (716} •72-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Inttituto for Hittorical Microroproductiona / Inatitut Canadian da microraproductiona hiatoriquaa Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquaa at bibliographiquaa T* to Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may be bibliographicaiiy unique, which may alter any of the imagea in tha reproduction, or which may aignificantly change the uauai method of filming, are checited below. D D D n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur |~~| Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagte Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture reataurte et/ou peliiculAe Cover title miaaing/ La titre de couverture manque Coloured mapa/ Cartea gAographiquas en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or blacic)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured platea and/or iliuatrationa/ Pianchea et/ou iliuatrationa en couleur D Bound with other material/ RailA avac d'autres documents Tight binding may cauae ahadowa or diatortion along interior margin/ La re liure aarrAe paut cauaar de I'ombre ou de la diatortion la long de la marge intArieure Blanic leavea added during reatoratlon may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II ae paut que certainea pagea blanchea ajouttea lore d'une restauration apparaiaaent dana la texte, mala, loraque cela Atait poaaible, cea pagea n'ont pea 4t« filmiea. Additional commanta:/ Commentairea supplAmantairae: L'Inatitut a microfilm^ la meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a Ati poaaible de ae procurer. Lea ditalia de cet exemplaire qui sent peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibiiographiaua. qui pauvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dana la m^thoda normale de f ilmage aont indiqute cl-daaaoua. I — I Coloured pagea/ D Pagea de couleur Pagea damaged/ Pagea endommagtea Pagea restored and/oi Pagea reataurAea et/ou pelliculiea Pagea diacolourad, stained or foxei Pagae d4color4ea, tachettea ou piquAea Pagea detached/ Pagea dAtach^M Showthroughy Tranaparence Quality of prlr QualitA intgala de llmpreaaion Includee aupplamentary matarii Comprend du matMel suppi^mentaira Only edhlon available/ Seule Miticn diaponlbie I — I Pagea damaged/ I — I Pagea restored and/or laminated/ r771 Pagea diacolourad, stained or foxed/ I — I Pagea detached/ rrj Showthrough/ I I Quality of print vari(«a/ I I Includee aupplamentary material/ I — I Only edition available/ Pagea wholly or partially obacured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to enaure the beat poaaible image/ Lee pagea totalement ou partiellement obacurciea par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 4ti filmtea A rfouveau de fayon A obtenir la meilieure image poaaible. Tf PC of fil Oi bi th 8i( ot fil si< or Tl Tl w M di er b« rij re TMa item ia filmed at the reduction ratio chaoked below/ Ce document eat f llmA au taux de rMuctkin indiqu# ci-deaaoua. 10X HX 18X 22X 28X 30X 12X 16X aox 2«X 32X Th« copy filmed h«r« hM b««n r«produc«d thanks to th« o«n«rosity of: National Ukrary of Canada L'axampiaira filmA fut raproduit srAca h la gAnirosltA da: BibliothAqua nationala du Canada Tha Imagas appearing hara ara tha baat quality poaaibia considaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and >n kaaping with tha filming contract tpaciftoations. Im Imagas sulvantaa ont At4 roprodultas avec la plus grand soln, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da l'axampiaira fllmA, at an conformity avac las conditions du contrat da fllmaga. Original copies in printed paper covera are filmed beginning with f.he front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. Ail other original copies are filmed beginning tm the first page with e printed or iliuatrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated Impression. Tlie last recorded freme on each microfiche shall contain tlie symbol — »■ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the aymbol V (meening "END"), whichever epplies. LAS exemplelres origlnaux dont la couvartura an papier est Imprimte sent fllmfo en commandant par lit premier plat at en termlnant solt par la darnlAre page qui comporte une emprelnta d'Impression ou d'lllustratlon, solt par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous las autras examplairas origlnaux sont fllmte an commandant par la pramiAre page qui comporte une empreirte d'Impression ou d'lllustratlon at an termlnant par la darnlAre pega qui comporte una telle empreinte. . Un dea symbolas suivants apparaltra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le aymboia — ► signlfie "A SUiVRE", le symbols ▼ sSgnifie "FIN". Meps, platea, charta, etc., mey be filmed et different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in tlie upper left hand corner, left to right end top to bottom, aa many frames ac required. The following diagrams iliuatrate the method: Lea cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., pouvent Atre fiimte A des taux de reduction dlfftrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre raproduit en un seui cilchA, II esi film* A partir de I'angle supAiieur gauche, de gauche ii droite, et de iMut en ba%, en prenant le nombre d'imagea nteas^^iS^e. Les diagrammas suivants illustrent le mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Section IV., 1882 [ 38 ] III. — On tlie Importance of Economizing and Preserving our Forests, By WiuJAM Saunoebs. (Head May 25, 1882.) At first sight, forests appear to the settlet iu a wooded countiy as obstacles to advan- cing civilization, to be removed as rapidly as possible, and with unwearied zeal and jjersistence in the nse of axe and fire the encumbrances are soon disposed of The stock of fertility accumulated by the long continued i^nnnal fall and decay of the leaves is utilized in the growth of cereals for man's sustenance, and in his zeal to get rid of the trees, the owner seldom reflects on the inestimable value of woods in providing shelter against storms, in equalizing temperature and moisture, and iu purifying the atmosphere. Perhaps the most obvious modification of climate by forests is in arresting wind, subduing its power in a greater degree than a solid barrier would, the limbs entangling and killing its force in a marked degree. Even a single tree has a wake of calm stretching away to a considerable distance, while a forest of deciduous trees absolutely arrests the wind near the earth. A windy climate is generally an unhealthy one, as indicated by the marked increase in mortality during and following the long continued prevalence of cold winds. Forests also equalize violent alternations of heat and cold ; the temperature is lower in summer and higher in winter iu the forest than in the adjacent open ground. During the heated term the umbrageous foliage protects the soil from the direct action of the sun's rays, while every leaf by the evaporation of moisture from its surface acts ao a refrigerator on the air immediately adjacent. In winter the heat which has been absorbed by the water with which the soil is charged also by the earth is slowly given up, and, added to the minute quantity of heat given forth by the living trees themselves, forms a reservoir of warmer air, which is slowly displaced in severe weather and mitigates its severity ; indeed the forest is a treasurer of the elements of climate, hoarding excesses and distribu- ting in times of need. Foresiis also exercise a governing and conservative influence on the humidity of the atmosphere. The roots of trees act in a measure like conduits, admitting the rain water into the su> -soil, while over this lies a stratum of humus, highly absorbent, and on the surface a layer of decaying trees, the whole acting something like an enormous sponge holding a vast quantity of surface water reserved for the heated season. Then, when the need for it is most urgent, it is elevated to the upper surface and distributed to the parched air by evaporation from the leaves, as already stated. -. Forests also influence rainfall ; trees indeed are most singularly complicated con- densers, their limbs, boughs, and leaves being a sort of natural machinery, wonderfully adapted to the purpose of grasping upon the atmosphere and causing those dynamic changes which induce precipitation of moisture. Tre>;s purify the soil. The pollution constantly going on about our dwellings charges T 36 WILLIAM SAUNDKlfS ON THE IMl'OKTANCJK OF the soil with organic matter, whiih the roots of trees search out, follow and feed mwn, and alter it as comjiletely as if it were bvxrnt, and elevate it into tlie upper air in forms of beauty. Data for the investigation of the influence of forests on the all-important question of rainfall, mixst be looked for in the eastern part of the world, whert; deforestation has been greatest, and where large districts have thus been entirely altered in their character and capabilities. AVhen the Jews lirst settled in Palestine it was a proverbial y fertile country, a land flowing with milk and honey, and favored with a pleasant climate Then the mountain ranges of the country were densely covered with forests, in which the stately cedar of Lebanon held a prominent place. The gTadually increasing population of Palestine enjoyed comfort and abundance during many centuries, liut a gradual devastation of the forests, which was finally completed by their enemies, produced a wonderful change. The hills of Galilee, once rich pasturing grounds for large herds of cattle, are now sterile ; the Jordan has become an insignificant stream, and several beautiful smaller rivers men- tioned in I he Bible, appear now as stony runs, which carry off the surplus water resulting from the melting snow in spring, but are completely dry during the greater part of the year. Somi' few valleys enriched by the soil which has been washed down from the hills, have retained a portion of their fertility, but the country as a whole is arid and desolate and not capable of sustaining one-fourth of the population it contained in the time of Solomon. Under the reign of the Moorish Caliphs, the Iberian peninsula resembled a vast garden, yielding grain and fruit in the greatest abundance. Then the sierras and mountain slopes were covered with a luxuriant growth of timber, which was afterwards wantonly destroyed under the rule of the Christian kings, while large herds of half wild goats and sheep pri'vented the spontaneous growth of trees which would otherwise have taken place on the neglected lands. Now nearly all the plateau lauds of Spain are desert- like and unfit for agriculture, because of the scarcity of rain. Portions of Sicily, Greece, Italy, France, and other European countries have suffered in like manner, and the plains and hillsides, once luxuriant with A'erdure, yield now but scanty crops, or are converted into arid wastes. In France the government has adopted a regular system of forest planting, which is proving a great success, and which in ("ourse of time will doubtless n'nu'dy the evils complained of, repay the expenses incurred and yield a revenue to the public^ treasury. Germany, which had also sullere*! from deforestation, was one of the first European nations to set to work energetically and systematically to remedy it by extensive planting. The work was begun nearly two hund.\'d years ago, and during this period the country has been biovight from the condition of a wood famine to a state in which there is now grown annually more wood than the country needs to use. It is estimated that with the systematic planting now regularly carried out, Germany can cut from ten to fifteen billions of feet' of lumber from its thirty-five millions of acres of wood lands yearly, for all time to come, a product from which the State is said to receive a net revenue of nearly forty millions of dollars per annum. Besides all this, while in many other countries the climate and soil have deteriorated to an alarming extent, Germany has gained in fertility, and tracts of \ T \ ECONOMl/.m(} AND I'JJKSKlfVlNG ()UJ{ FOJIKSTS. 87 formerly worthless laud have boeu brought under succesHlul culture, and the elimate, if it has not improved, as some claim, at least has not deteriorated. Other countries are following the example of Germany, and systematic forest-planting is now being faithfully carried out, not only in Europe, but in India and Australia. In our own country, although we have uot yet felt any ill ettects from the partial removal of our woods, yet the timber supply is being so rapidly exhausted, that the question of replanting must before long engage the serious attention of our people. At the present rate of consumption and destruction, it is estimated that the twentieth century will see the greater portion of the American continent well nigh denuded of its forests. The disastrous consequences of a dearth of timber in Canada would be dilHcult to describe ; it would interfere! sadly with the further settlement of our country and paralyse our industries. Stricter regulations are needed to prevent the unnecessary destruction of timber by the lumberer, and by the forest hres which often arise from wanton carelessness, and entail immense losses. Some measures looking to the replanting of denuded districts should also be introduced. In the comparatiA-ely treeless portions of our great Northwest Territory, a marked improvement in the climate might be eft'ected by judicious and extensive tree planting ; and in all parts of our Dominion endeavors should be made to excite a general interest in this subject, and to create a healthy sentiment in favor of preserving, with greater care, the remnants of the noble forest with which our coimtry was once clothed.