The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-02-02
BY Francis Rieder

the ages, the forests have fur
nished fuel and we're the home Of
most OF the food to be cooked over
said fuel, namely game animals and
fowls. Being responsible for the
rivers they are indirectly respon-
sible for fresh water fish.
The forests OF today are tonic to
many a nervous, weary business
man or woman who can find time
to spend a few weeks in them In the
summer. Something about the for
ests seems to appeal to an inborn
sense In all persons so that time
spent there in search OF rest is never
wasted. Forests are a valuable as
set to any city, county, state or
country; not merely for the timber
they contain, but for the great
Fairgrounds they afford. Man
where he has destroyed the forests.
and the places are many, goes inn
mediately TO work (as soon as he
rests from his dostructlon) TO create
parks or play grounds, and these
play grounds are invariably planted
in some trees at the very outset.
Perhaps they say shade is necessary
OF the specie of tree is unique in
this vicinity, but back OF II all lies
tho inherent love OF the forest.
Forests influence the climate OF
any and every country. Trees In
any quantity act as huge condensers
OF rain. They regulate the temper
aturo somewhat In that evaporation
from the leaves lowers the tempera-
turo In summer. In winter, acting
as n wind break, thoy tend 10 raise
tho temperature, or at least pro-
vent II from being lowered. by
sheltoring tho country from tho
wind.
Much OF tho land on tho shores
OF tho Baltic Ia protected In this
manner. A century ago thoy we're
nearly untenablo because OF the
violence OF tho wind. Nothing
would grow. the winters we're un-
bearably cold. and the houses were
built In the loo OF tho hill TO keep
tho wind from uprooting them.
Firs were. planted some eighty
years ago. acres and acres; miles
and miles OF them, and whole sec
tions In tho loo OF them have be-
come good farm lands. Sands have
been checked In their drifting and
the wind. even In tho open stretches
is not 80 severe because OF the trees.
Tho forests are matured now and
some lumber is being cut,
A vast amount OF timber Is neces-
sary to the existence OF rivers OF any
size without timber around It's
source a river is subject to floods
In the spring or In rainy seasons.
and In the summer or dry seasons
Il is very apt 10 be nothing but a
dry channel Floods are very ex-
penslye as they destroy large
amounts OF property and life. A
flood IL always followed by low wa
ter. and low water is Just as expen-
siye 10 commerce and TO agrieul-
turo in an irrigated country, causing
as II does crop failures and famine,
Deforested lands, unless immedi-
ately farmed are lost TO the use OF
man forever. II the section Is hilly
as In the Southern United States, II
Is soon stripped OF its soil and the
valleys are flooded with silt and
boulders. II the deforested lands
are more level and there is less
rainfall all vegetation dies from
lack OF moisture heretofore stored
In the forests. Unless In a very
humid climate, vegetation depends
to a great extent upon the moisture
held over from the winter SHOWS;
and nothing can do this as well as
the forests. The thick mat Of ve-
getation on the forest floor, aud
the thick mat OF roots below the
ground serves as an immense
sponge which. protected from the
heat of summer by the tree tops,
feeds the springs and rivers, and In
cidentally the vegetation of the sur
rounding country.
Deforestation can be eombated
only by replanting OF seientitc
numbering. Expensive reservoirs
TO conserve the water wasted in the
spring floods take the place OF for
ests as far as the water is con-
cerned. but the detorested land is
still unproductiye In all coun-
tries where forests are absent, vast
sections have deteriorated into
waste land with all water running
off In a few hours or days and car
rying much OF the soil with It,
while the rivers OF yesterday form
dry rayines through the summer