The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-11-29


to which we have occasionally advert
ed, not merely diminishes the actual
amount of rain that falls in the denud-
ed, country, and consequently the fer
tility of the soil. which cannot bring
forth its increase unless the nourish-
ing moisture is supplied to root and
leaf, but renders the amount Of rain
which falls comparatively useless.
When the shower reaches the surface
of the earth it is no longer delayed and
detained by millions of intertangled
roots and shoots, each of which is a
natural channel of irrigation convey
ing it to the lower strata, but rushes
of from the hard parched surface in
streams, stripping away the heritage,
and washing the land into deep gullies.
Or, if the district is too level for this, it
is once evaporated, being no longer
protected by the branches and leaves
of trees. The gradual diminution of
the volume of water poured into our
Western streams diminution which
has now gone on till many of them are.
at certain periods of the year, practi-
cally closed to navigation-will be
found to keep pace with the gradual
extention of the settled districts IN
which the woodlands ak has been
welded with wonderful, if thought.
less, industry. Thus, while less rain
falls, it is no longer stored up and hus-
banded in the earth, to be gradually
given up again in countless springs
percolating to the surface, keeping the
rivers at nearly the same heighth, ex-
cept in exceptional portions in the wet
and dry seasons, it at once passes away
in freshets. The river-bed which
was nearly dry becomes for an hour or
two roaring torrent, to revert again
soon to its low water condition. This
phenomenon is exhibited on the
grandest scale in the rivers Of the tree
less plains of the far West, with their
huge water-worn canons.
Nor does the mischief to oar rivers
end with liability to freshet and gen
eral diminution of the volume of water
draining into them. Rain thus stream
ing unchecked from the surface trans
fers the best portions Of the soil to
their channels, rendering them, by
elevation of their beds, still shallower
than want of water has already made
them, and blocked uc the entrance by
the deposit of shoals and banks at their
mouths.
When the destruction of timber has
gone so far that the climate is excess
lively dry. it is task Of extreme diff :
Guilty to restore forest-land; for,
although We may plant trees to en-
courage rainfalls, We unfortunately
want rain to encourage tree-growing.
The failure of numerous attempts at
restoring forests in those parts of
Spain where their wanton destruction
has caused an arid desert is often alleg-
ed as proof of the impossibility of
the task, but we think that if the ex-
ample of Spain teaches anything; it is
that what is impossible in Spain IS
quite possible everywhere else. The
growth of the trees which now give
Egypt forty-six days of rain per an
mum was, of course. promoted by the
annual inundation of the Nile, and the
I forests planted near Trieste would
have the best care which the expert
enced foresters of Germany could sup
ply. Both instances prove that the
thing can be done.
Fortunately, IN most OF our States
we need not take any thought abou,
planting; we have merely to prohibi
reckless telling, and the extensive dis
coveries of coal, and its increasing US,
as the cheapest fuel which lessen the
. demand for wood for burning. Anc
in our western treeless States, wher
once our settlers have learned the ben
efits arising from the presence of tht
trees, we have no doubt their goOt
sense will lead them to plant them
and have as little doubt that their en-
ergy and skill will find means to max,
them grow and flourish. The advic.
Of the old Scotch laird to his son wa
| very good: when We hea naethin.
, to do, Donald, just stick in bit tree
it is aye growing while ye're sleeping.
Inter Ocean