DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 7

DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

TREES AND RAINFALL

(Copyright * 192 7.J recently occurred in California a tremendous storm. Much, damage was done by the floods caused by the rain. Swollen by a hundred rain-flooded drains, the Los Angeles River rushed in a torrent during the four-day downpour, carrying away trees, small buildings and twenty bridges important to street car and vehicular traffic. In tais connection it is interesting to read the report of George H. Barnes, president of the American Reforestation Association, who says: “Trees make rain a blessing instead of a danger. It is through the Physical actior of the tree that seven-ninths of the rainfall is produced, through the humus or leaf mould under the trees, 88 per cent, of the water which falls as rain is absorbed by the forest floor, and it takes approximately twenty-seven months for its proper distribution under normal conditions. “When this covering has been destroyed, either by fire or cutting, 9per cent, of the rainfall goes away in disastrous floods, carrying with it ricn mineral phosphates, silt soil and detritus.’ Beside thi forests have much to do with inducing rainfall and in regulating the climate. . _ ... . , One cause of the disastrous floods in China is the denudation of the land there. Trees are the best security against extremes in climatic coiiditions. Tree! are the best friends of man. . . _ They not only control the weather, but they are the source of much of man’s building supply. _ . , . Children should early be taught ae importance of the tree and systematic arrangement should be made for reforestation. All those who have isiyen this Blatter much thought agree In the importance of forests.