The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-03-11
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HOW Vegetation 1uTlnences Clifnatc.

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now Vegetation Iunnences Cnmntc.
That climate controls vegetation in
great degree, 10 quite evident, and
1t Is equally true that vegetation it.
self has marked effect upon the eli.
mate. In the first place it exerts an
influence npon thc wind. Where the
land is bare of trees, the wind has an
unobstructed sweep; and where this
prevails, and is violent, the climate
Is not only pleasant to man and beast,
but is unfavorable to vegetation. -
Western farmers hnow how this is
upon their broad unsheltcred prair.
les, aud New Englanders know how
IL is along their bleak sea coasts. -
The only way to grow handsome and
healthy trees in such localities, is
first to surround ones farm or gar.
den with belt Of coarse trees like
willow, silver and poplar, and ever.
greens. Outside Of such vcrdant
barriers, the trees and shrubs If plant.
ed, grow lean; lop- sided and stunted,
inside they stand erect, we'll devel-
oped and invigorous. Without this
protection there is unploasantness Of
having gale forever blowing about
one's ears, the ceaseless roar Of the
wind around the dwelling, the rattle
of the windows and doors, the incrcas-
ed consumption of fuel, aud the dis.
comfort of cattle at all seasons, butt
especially in winter; put these and
the like things together, and we find
whatever serves TO break the violence
of the wind, or TO change its direct
ion, Is thing Of considerable inpor-
tance. IL should not be forgotten
that air in motion produces more
chillness than the same air at rest i
Wet your finger and hold it up in the
still air, and you will hardly feel tho
cold; but swing it around, and the
hand will be rapidly chilled. The
difference between the climate Of al
windy region and one sheltered from
driving currents of air, is equally
great.
Again vegetation affects climate lyI
limiting evaporation of moisture. =
Many years ago, Humboldt declared
that men in all climates, by stripping
the hills of trees, were preparing for
themselves two calamities, viz: The
want of fuel and want Of WAGER The
evaporation from trees produces Il
cool and moist local atmosphere j
The ovcrhanging boughs prevent the
too rapid evaporation Of moisture
from the ground, and dissipation by
the wind. The sources OF nearly all
brooks and creeks are to lie found in !
springs among the hills; and by cut
ing off the trees which have always
overshadowed them, the moisture is |
rapidly evaporated and the springs
lowered, if not dried up.
Experience is continually demon.
strating this. Every old farmer will
tell us that his springs are less copi.
GUS now than they were thirty years
ago; and SO OF the various streams,
large and small. The rains fall; per-
haps, in nearly their former abund.
ance, but they come ofteuer in tor
rents, which run down the hill sides,
unobstructed by trees, brushwood,
and low vegetation, and pour them.
selves into the streams Of tho valley,
producing freshets and hurtful inun-
dations; and so we 60 from freshets
to droughts, from heavy rains to long
periods ofarid, parching dryness In
some parts OF Europe, so great harm
has followed the destruction OF for
ests, that legislation has been called
In TO stay their demolition and to
promote the planting Of the new.