New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-02

ture of the seasons but marked dlsslmlartyln the
distribution of rains" Tables of temperature and
an excellent map of the isothermal lines ada 10 the
value of this portion of the work.
While the author is fully awake to the importance
of forest culture and the value of irrigation as an
agricultural agent we think he rather UNDERTAKES
the character of the Plans. The Desert mas
steadily receded as settlement has approacheo l.S
conectured limits The experience OF COlorado
farmers shows that alkaline soils may easily De nnaue
productive and while large tracts Will undouoteuly
be given to Dasturage for many years 10 COMO W
imagine that the later necessity of increasing the
agricultural area will find means OF subduing nIuon
land that is now considered lrreclaimable Ut. foS-
tors remarks on the exhaustion of prairie soils are
both true and timely, but we fear they will not oo
hooded large proportion Of the Western farmers
are entrants bv temperament, and change OF se''ie
ment has become part of their business. MOI un'i
all-fbe best land of the Mississippi valley Is app
priatcG will there be permanence ana ecoho,i.''
agriculture. We should be glad to learn Soine.lins
more concerning the native grasses sun
of which seem TO disappear before cuitN"uon,
III oooIocicaI sketch ALSO has the merit OF oieN
itv and clearness. The successive loiI'"''o "a
traced from the old azOic region OF CanI' a., "nN
Ioko Superior to the comparatively IecenC -,
the Pacific Coast, in a manner WHICH, WIN 'ii0 -,
corrnanviug map, enables the reader 10 Trace 'D
STAGES of emergence of the American Oon'il u,o
While the head-waters Of the MISSISSIPPI i'U - -
o,oic and SiIurian districts the oldest formation pe-
49,, tlo min stream and the Pacific Ocean IS
tract in Iowa and Kansas, belongings inc ca'oon
frors neriod the traces Of the cretaceous era pre-
dominate The author thus sets forth his views Oh u
iroologcallvl recent and remarkable change III the
character Of the central portion OF the Continents
ALTERNATING the order OF succession II may oe stateu
that almost everywhere in the Great bSs, anu %
NAV be said Of the Colorado Plateau there aIe H
tho evidences within q recent PERIOD OF Cha.c nvn
more humid and of soil much moro fruitful tan nov
tanding considerable tracts OF dead forests the Do9e
OF the lakes and streams SHOW %a,cF i H,1ooS now
feet above their present levels aiuylal potoS, ~
hare and desoate contain the entOmbed remains on
have been tine channels OF abundant streams, a'o
dry or discharge an inslgnlhcant noeu; sPIuss
ting in the melting SHOWS are PeG as soo the rS
reach the thirsty plain; ana IN certain parts al
mains Of pOpulOus towns where now IL WOulu ~ ulio
for man TO exc out subsistence. AZ tSso ptrnmniv
attest that this widespread desoanoh ls Oh TAletS
recent origin, but for which IT Is dncut 10 onGI ia
water at present maintained we must sulOSY ' I'M
the conditions Of climate have renamed constant ~
with depression of the country TO sueh an extern ~
admit OF the now OF tne ocean tnlousn 80 SnDnHse
Desert the Of the Great Basin, ana II We s9tIe
that throughout this basin there existed series OF ah
200 aud 800 feet IN deltL; we can NJ ,rrants of
climate would he essentially mOdhcd no cuIItuta vi
air would arise from heated expanse TO dsspaS every
forming cloud; evaporation from ~ s. - limos
would reduce the temperature ana nolsch tic a lhJ
phprC: and ClCtnnE Tue eioptS VI 'h'
shade the fountains and render them perennial NCao
disposed to believe, therefore, that the volcano aSuo
OF which Mount Shasta but example, comDhed per
haps with gradual eleyatOry movement eXeTed Wlhl1
the historic period far changed the lelalSe eN
of land and sea as produce this diminished MOISTURE
The concluding chapters upon the influence OF eli
mate upon human development, and the other eX-
ternal influences which affect the civilization OF the
race. might have been more satisfactory we think
if the author had given them more of local char
acter His congratulations though not inappropri-
ate have been already given by others; while inc
Western people are beginingtO exhibit certain differ
ences of nature and temperament some Oh WINCH
undoubtedly may be ascribed to climate and soil
All observations upon this point would have specal
interest for u.s. We should like to know the changes
wrought upon the natives of the Atlantic seaOoaId'
and their descendants born in the West. We should
be Glad TO hear what influence the Prairie exercises
mon character as contrasted with that of the Noun
tains and the Sea. Further we desire to know how
the different natiOnalites pouring into the Missis-
sippi Valley adjust themselves TO each other and how
soon their elements are likely to blend in the crea-
tion of the future race which shall people the vast
empire. These are subjects which, perhaps, cannot
vet be comprehensivey treated but it is not too soon
for the collection of material for their illustration
Dr. Fosters style is simple and lucid, and as PIC
turesque as the nature of lis theme will allow. Here
and there we meet with such a careessly
sentence as: "a man and boy can tend forty acres
[of cornl besides devoting portion Of their time to
other crops, which, with good management may be
made to yield from sixty to eighty bushels to the
acre" The book is an excellent specimen OF Chicago
| Typography.