The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-19

Llca tnAt crops upon snlQ AlllS are moro
liable to drought than those in richer
valleys solely because Of the superior
fertility Of the soil Of the latter, for, by
application Of manure, hills are frequent
ly richer in all the chemical elements of
the plant; and yet how rare is it, except
| in the most seasonable years, that they
can compare at all fayorably with the
more luxurian! yield of the valley.
WHY CROPS ARE BEST In VALLEYS.
claim, then, the following dedrc.
tions: Valleys are mainly superior K
Mills by virtue OF advantages Of location
which enable them to collect and rctail
moisture. And when trees or crops sue
cumb to drought upon hills and are lux
urlant in valleys, their destruction in tht
one instance is attributable solely to the
absence OF moisture. whilst their preser.
vation in the other can alone be account
ed TOR by its presence. Hence the death
OF trees upon hills where they have flour
lshed flor centuries must establish the
TACT that there is now deficiency in mois-
ture, or more drought which has so in
creased that, in addition to the consump-
ton of crops, they now attack the more
assaIlable PORTION of the woods them
| selves.
DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS IN THE SOUTH.
Droughts then have increased, and it
is not necessary to show that there has
been an actual diminution in the attitude
Oh the rain gauge before we argue the
disastrous effects of the destruction of
forests. Nor is it required of me that
snail descant upon the electrical influ-
ence upon clouds of tall trees upon emil
nences; or of forests aud their climatic
nr a.,
WIND. or OF their properties as condenscrs
of moisture.
These, gentlemen, under the manipu-
iatlons OF man of science, would be
highly interesting and could all be made
to bear an important part in this grand
discussion. They arc unfortunately
above the scope of my plantation sphere.
beyond which human vanity shall not
tempt me, even upon so important an
occasion. But, if 1 shall be able to show
that cleared fields promote general sur
face evaporation and facilitate the escape
of rainfall, while forests act in ii. (, oppo-
site direction, shall feel that [ have
pointed out the real cause for these more
frequently recurring calamities. For in
all parts of the country is visible the
wanton destruction of these, Natures
fairest ornamer Is. Especially is this the
case at the South, where countless thous-
ands of acres of the finest timber in the
world have been felled at the imperious
mandate of "King Cotton" to furnish re-
munerative labor for him of "Afric's
sunny plains," whose costly services in
his former capacity | fear will not now
DE compensated for by his recent transfer
from the field to the forum. To so disas-
trous an extent has this clearing been
pushed that many plantations find diff
Guilty in procuring timber for s..ncing.
And this with its accompanying effects is
the only change visible in the physical
features of the general landscape.
HOW FORESTS RETAIN MOISTURE.
Whatever then adds to the general
moisture of country promotes facilities
for rain /; because il the atmosphere at q
certain temperature is charged with
vapor, which is moisture, it will be pre-
cipitated either in dew, rain, snow or
sleet so soon as this temperature is low
cred, whilst if the moisture be added to,
and there be no lowering of temperature,
precipitation must result from supersatu-
ration. Hence il is pertinent to inquire
into the properties of woods as retainers
of water and as developers of vapor.
We ee> fortunate ;n having some most
marked illustrations of the power of
forests as absorbents and retainers Of
rainfall. Select for yourselves some cul-
tivated field of any area which discharges
its superfiux of rainfall through a single
valley; then take an equal extent of
woods of similar topography, and after
come considerable rainfall note the differ
ence in the discharge Of waste water from
the two outlets and you will find that the
field loses not less than eight or ten times
more than runs from the woods. This is
not only plantation observation by all OF
you, but it il borne out by reasoning.
The soil in the woods is moro porous.
The litter upon the surface obstructs the
flow of water. The roots by their deep
penetration make openings, thereby
storing large supplies in the lower strata
which are never again reached after clear
ing except during the prevalence of very
long spells of wet weather. Whilst in
the more northern sections the SHOWS are
retarded in melting, and are consequent-
ly more largely absorbed by the hills aud
mountains for the summer supply of
wells, springs and streams.
IHE WATER EvAPoRATED BY LEAVES,
AND WHERE IT COMES FROM.
In looking mp como authority upon the
subject of exhalation of moisture through
the leaves of trees, was amazed in read
ing q most masterly effort in which this
subject was treated of by +. Ebener, of
Baltimore, to find that by actual expert
ment the annual evaporation from an or
dinary sized peach tree amounted to
eighteen barrels, or over two gallons in
twenty-four hours, and he goes on to say,
"that If we consider the size of trees in q
well set forest, even Of moderate extent,
we may see that the yearly evaporation is
something enormous. The moro and
greater the leaves, the greater the quanti-
ty of water evaporatcd."
1t must be borne IL mind that this i'm
mense quantity of water is not of the sur
face supply, but is principally drawn up
from q depth even of twenty feet, in
nsed yc;;id ali nave percolated the earth
aud been discharged at the foot of hills
to have made its way to the sea, or in the
first instance, would nave washed rapidly
from the country, had not the woods
been there for the arresting and storing
up of its volume.
And this is the reason why streams
having their sources in timbered sections,
are more constant in the supply, and
have clearer waters. Whilst those rising
where fields have taken the place of
forests are characterized by diminished
volume, oy muddy waters and by higher
freshets.
ILLUSTRATIVE FACTS.
Forests then are. unquestionably, re-
tainers of water and r-otaoters of general
moisture. nor do we lack authority for