Arizona silver belt., 1889-08-31
Thc rrycicnic Value of Eorrsts.


 no other value but that of wood pro- ducers. There are unquestionab!y also large and growing number who regard trees from an aesthetic point of view, and value them for the aid they afford m rendering the landscape eff fectiye. Few, however, have ever realized what would be the sanitary condition of the world if all the tree s were removed, or have considered how important an influence thc woodlands have upon the regulation of climate. Bernard Palissv realized this. and so did Fernando Colon. who so long ago as 1540, declared that the rains in Madeira, tue Azores and the Cdnaries, had become rarcr since the trees had been cut down. Humboldt, Boussing. gault and Decquerel have each in turn raised a warning yoice against reek. less deforestatiou, and each have dem onstrated ia most conclusive manner that without trees there will be little rain, and consequently falhng off in natural irrigation. 0n the Continent there are districts where the principal rivers have decreased in volume since the clearing of the woods near tbelr sources, and there Is at the present time small tributary of the Oder, which within living memory regular ly turned three or four mlls iu it's course, which Is now absolutely dry except after severe transforms. In tue south of France. in Spain. Italy, Algeria, Morocco, and all round the Mediterranean. the same ihina IS be. ing experienced, The rain ipStcad Of falling in moderate showers, as for merly, now comes III violent gusbes with long periods of drouth between. The consequence is that the grass ss and other low growing plants perish. Their roots wither away, and the soil, no longer held together by their fbcrs, is washed away by ihe occasional yio- lent storms, and carried down into he bed of tho rivers Countries which were once the granarieS of the world. on winch a numerous population thrived, are now llttle better than deserts. The mischief wrought by wholesale clearance of woods has awakened attention in many of the countries named, and replanting has been undertaken on large scale ny individuals, communities and govern ments, with the most decisive results Where such attempts have been made the climate has become less extreme rain has fallen more uniformly and public health has improved. In North west india the beneficial effects oi tree planting have been most marked converting a barren desert into q region of great fertility. The in. fiuencc of trees cn tho health of com. inuniiies is also very marked. London affords striking example Of thi> truth. The metropolis ot England j; fine best wooded city of the world, and it Is also the most healthy. its deatt rate being lower than that of average large towns, though within tho metro polilai, area there exists q populatior larger than that Of many kingdom, and principaiities The reason fol this IS easily explained. The foll2gt of frees absorb from the atmosphere i large proportion of it's carhonic acid which without this natural filtration would be left III the air 10 be Lreathct by ihe people, with he consequence 0 diminished health. Trees are no only beautiful objects in the landscape and useful as supplying valuable tim timber, but they are necessary for th' proper regulation of the climate, ant the absorption of gases deletefious t the Luman frame The duty of all is therefore, iint only 10 spare thc trees Jut to plant theni wherever and when ever possible. Ey.