The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-04
TREE CULTURE.
Its Effect Upon Climate, Water
Supply and Healthfnlness.
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(By Moya Wlcks.)

There IS nothing more remarkable than
the Ignorance OF the people at .arge re-
garding the functions and far-reaching
effects of trees. The subject is SO vast
in its importance and so replete with tech
nical detail. it lie with genuine reluctance
that tho writer undertakes It, for he wen
knows that in the fitness OF things moro
practical hands than his should perform
the task.
An old writer said: "Tse skin OF tho
animal Is not more necessary to its we'll
being than is the tree covering OF the
earth essential TO the proper condition
of the SOIL and. in our own day. Oliver
Wendell Holmes q distinguished rhysi-
clan and scientist as well as the most ele-
giant and versatile bellies letters scholar
OF his time has said. when VIC plant
tree We are doing what we can to make
our planet a moro wholesome and happier
dwelling place for those who como after
US as well as for ourselves"
II is the object OF these pages to show
the correctness OF the assertions quoted.
The history OF civilization has been ac-
companied by growing deserts and too
often trees have retired before the ad-
vance OF man like the buffalo and dodo.
The swarmipg myriads OF population in
the great birth places OF the human fam
ily, Eastern and Central Asia and North
ern Africa, had during thousands OF years
of civilization 30 nearly eXtermipated
their tree growth that those countries be-
came practically deserts before agriculture
Nss in Ia systematic way practised in Eu-
rope. Indeed il has been stoutiy malu.
tanned by many scientists that no country
was ever originally desert, but that all
deserts have been made so by man Even
Sahara. extensive depressions in the sur
face. marks of water on the rocks. water
worn pebbles and stone wharves where
ships have been moored show that at one
time great rivers supported life and com
merce in what is now the typical desert
OF this planet. Even as late as the over
throw OF zenobia by Aurellan, Palmyra was
the seat OF a great empire, but, now th'
shifting sands OF Sahara almost hide thu
ruins Of that stupendous city OF marbl'
and gold. AS late as tho rise OF Mnham'
mechanism in the Seventh century OF til,
Chritian era. the country Of Tripoli, OF
the North African coast had a popnla'
ton OF 6,000.000 souls and was clothed
with VINEYARDS. orchards and forests.
IS now bare OF vegetation. the stream
dried up and the population reduced t
$4,000 people. The heat Is so intense tina
the little labor done Is after the setting
OF the sun. All this is due to the reck
less destruction OF tree growth. The hatrei
of Turk for tree Is proyerbial. anI
wherever. at Its inception, the crescon
of Mohammed achieved victory. whethe
IN Asia or Africa. the trees were slaught
douhter concerning the inspiration OF I'll
camel driver OF Mecca.
~
Champallon the famous scholar an,
Egyptologist. in speaking of the sahar
desert Of Northern Africa. says: "An
so the astonishing fact dawns upon u
that this desert was once region {
groves aud fountains and the abode
happy millions. Is there any crime againi
nature that draws down more dreat
ful curse than that OF stripping moth,
earth or her sylvan covering The har
Of man has produced this desert and,
verify believe. every desert on the "a,
OF the EARTH
In similar vein. Baron Alexander v,
1iumholt says: Man By hla own reel
aessness brings upon himself a scarcely
wood and resultingly lack OF water" II
famous Or. SChielman writes from Saiu
lea ''as n fellow Unitarian. | feel sor
for the Turks, but as respecter OF Goo
physical laws. ] must own that they d
serve their fate. Men who for TWEEN
generations have shown themselves II
destroyers on principle, have no right
complain II the world rise against them
The thoughtful student OF natural 81
enco echoes with approval these wor
OF the distinguished explorer OF the rui
Of Troy. albeit with self upbraidi,
feeling that when weighed In the balan
our Caucasian race might prove Ia "
respect equally remiss with the ''turban
and most malignant Turk" Spain. Port
gal. Southern Italy, Greece and many pc
tions OF both Americas are eloquent illu
untions OF the folly Of tree DESTROY
vandalism Spain contains in many
It's provinces only 10 per cent OF Its form
population, for even la the time az Va