Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-04-21
On Trees and Health.

vation of trees. 1t was characteristic of both
Washington and Franklin to preserve a tree as
something really precious, not only as an ornament
but as an important element in the preservation of
health. Hence the lawn of Mount Vernon in his
day was skirted by abundant foliage that kept off,
in great part the miGsma arising from the conta-
gious shore And Barlow, the poet, who succeed
ed at later day Franklin at the French court ia
arranging the beautiful grounds of Kalorama, in
this district often extolled the use of our forest
trees as barriers against mias0a that could be con-
veyed a considerable distance Washington him
self was very desirous of preserving the native
growth near the brow of Capitol Hill, and the ell
der Adams, jefferson and their successors were all
friends to the growth of trees Mr., Jefferson caus-
ed quadruple rows of trees to occupy the line of
Pennsylvania avenue, but unfortunately that great
highway not at first properly graded nor were
the trees then selected of durable kind nor of the
best shape for shade--the Lomcardy poplar.
Every enlightened being is the friend of the
preservation of trees and one of the best reasons
why coal should be used whenever it can be OBJ
tanned is, that 'the monarchs of the forest'' will
thus be spared to spread their branches towards
heaven while man and beast derive benefit from
the sparing of their growth
1t would be desirable that portions of the public
lands should only be sold under restrictions to
proportionate part of the trees growing thereon
states should pass enactments to secure to travel
the benefit of shade along the county and state
roads, not only for the comfort of man and beast
but also to promote the health of the inhabitants of
the surrounding country
| The distinguished scholar, Timothy Flint, in his
lectures on naturrl history the head of "Hy
dry-V Vegetable Harmonies has most ably treated
these grave matters of the first importance; and,
inasmuch as the enlightened corporate authorities
of the metropolis have legisated to the security of
trees, the following extracts are commended to the
reflection of every mind studious of improvement: ::
Nant. Intelligencer.
"If we find water indispensable to the life of
turfs flowers plants and trees these in their turn
exert a powerful influence upon the waters of the
atmosphere and the earth. We shall find that dis
trcts covered with forests attract Clouds turn aside
destructive Winds arrest electric meteors and thus
shelter and preserve the humble dwellers in Gotta
ges Who is so destitute of taste and admiration
of the works of the Creator not to love beautiful
trees? Who has one touch of poetry and the love
of nature in his heart cannot remember the hours
of pleasant meditation which he has passed under
the greenwood shade feeling the delicious coolness
imbibing the spirit of repose, admring the ten
thousand forms of the rustng leaves, and listening
to the soothing hum of the insects seeking their
tar on the foliage and in the flower-bells? Who
but barbarian would unnecessarily apply the axe
to these beautiful ornaments of the fields? Who
in Cities to subserve at the purposes of shade
health and beauty, would not put forth sufficient
public spirit to unite his efforts with those who
would procure the streets, squares and public walks
to be lined with trees2
"Cut down the forests of country, and you
change its climate. No country on the earth has
offered such convincing proof of this fact as ours
| If our climate was originally too humid, cutting
down the forests has so meorated it, as it has
clearly tended to render the air drer and rains less
frequent Yet it is fact, attested, it seems to
me- beyond all question, that the primitive settlers,
who reared their cabins under the shade of the un-
broken forest, healthier than their successors,
who lived in the cleared fields. The wide and gen
era clearings among vast forests has had equiv
ocal and double results In various portions of the
Ohio valley the air has become decidedly more sa-
lubrious since the country has been apened to the
sun and air. In other districts of the west along
the lower courses of the Mississippi and Red river,
the reverse has decidedly been the case.
| GA forest so dense as to prevent the free circu-
lation of the air. and to screen its reekng Vegeta-
ton from the sunbeams is manifestly insaubrious
to the inhabitants. But if trees had been left over
the whole surface of our pastures and unenclosed
grounds at regular and proper distances, and espe-
cally, if our whole roadside had been left shaded
and our whole country had been made to resemble
the ndIl lOT0SG anu pasture, WHICH
the west is denominated barren, what an exquis-
itely beautiful landscape surprising that Of all 9TH
ers in the world would the United States have pre-
sentedl
''The plains of Provence, in France, have been
swept by storms unknown in former times. The
change has resulted from cutting down the forests
during the French revolution. The Cephisus, that
'bathed the gardens of the ancient academy, has
disappeared with the grave of Mount Hymettus.-
Travellers search in vain for Troas, for the river
Scamander. 1t has dried up with the destruction
of the forest of cedars which covered Mount Ida,
whence it took its source. Italy, during the exist
ence of the vast forests of the Tyrol, enjoyed a
mild temperature. 1t has become burning eli
mate since their destruction.
GA thousand beautiful springs in our country
have disappeared since the forests have been cut
down. A thousand streams in the west that con-
tinued to murmur along their limestone beds dur
ing the highest heats of summer when they mean
dered through deep forest, now, that the verdan
screen from the suns rays is no more are dried uI
every summer. Who of us that have seen half {
century cannot remember cool spring sources il
the deep shade where were wont to slake oul
thirst and taste the cooness and repose of the for
est, that are now dry and stripped of their trees
The barbarous axe has been piled in our country
without taste or discretion. Would that the dispo
t stion to spare the trees could be infused into th
ten thousand youthful adventures who are ever,
D year making their abode in our primeval forests