The Earth As Modified By Human Action A New Edition Of Man And Nature PDF Download

A powerful and prophetic treatise from America's first environmentalist.Natural Advantages of the Territory of the Roman Empire--Physical Decay of that Territory--Causes of the Decay--Reaction of Man on Nature--Observation of Nature--Uncertainty of Our Historical Knowledge of Ancient Climates--Uncertainty of Modern Meteorology--Stability of Nature--Formation of Bogs--Natural Conditions Favorable to Geographical Change--Destructiveness of Man--Human and Brute Action Compared--Limits of Human Power--Importance of Physical Conservation and Restoration--Uncertainty as to Effects of Human ActionModern Geography takes Account of Organic Life--Geographical Importance of Plants--Origin of Domestic Vegetables--Transfer of Vegetable Life--Objects of Modern Commerce--Foreign Plants, how Introduced--Vegetable Power of Accommodation--Agricultural Products of the United States--Useful American Plants Grown in Europe--Extirpation of Vegetables--Animal Life as a Geological and Geographical Agency--Origin and Transfer of Domestic Quadrupeds--Extirpation of Wild Quadrupeds--Large Marine Animals Relatively Unimportant in Geography--Introduction and Breeding of Fish--Destruction of Fish--Geographical Importance of Birds--Introduction of Birds--Destruction of Birds--Utility and Destruction of Reptiles--Utility of Insects and Worms--Injury to the Forest by Insects--Introduction of Insects--Destruction of Insects--Minute OrganismsThe Habitable Earth Originally Wooded--General Meteorological Influence of the Forest--Electrical Action of Trees--Chemical Influence of Woods--Trees as Protection against Malaria--Trees as Shelter to Ground to the Leeward--Influence of the Forest as Inorganic on Temperature--Thermometrical Action of Trees as Organic--Total Influence of the Forest on Temperature--Influence of Forests as Inorganic on Humidity of Air and Earth--Influence as Organic--Balance of Conflicting Influences--Influence of Woods on Precipitation--Total Climatic Action of the Forest--Influence of the Forest on Humidity of Soil--The Forest in Winter--Summer Rain, Importance of--Influence of the Forest on the Flow of Springs--Influence of the Forest on Inundations and Torrents--Destructive Action of Torrents--Floods of the Ardeche--Excavation by Torrents--Extinction of Torrents--Crushing Force of Torrents--Transporting Power of Water--The Po and its Deposits--Mountain Slides--Forest as Protection against Avalanches--Minor Uses of the Forest--Small Forest Plants and Vitality of Seeds--Locusts do not Breed in Forests--General Functions of Forest--General Consequences of Destruction of--Due Proportion of Woodland--Proportion of Woodland in European Countries--Forests of Great Britain--Forests of France--Forests of Italy--Forests of Germany--Forests of United States--American Forest Trees--European and American Forest Trees Compared--The Forest does not furnish Food for Man--First Removal of the Forest--Principal Causes of Destruction of Forest--Destruction and Protection of Forests by Governments--Royal Forests and Game-laws--Effects of the French Revolution--Increased Demand for Lumber--Effects of Burning Forest--Floating of Timber--Restoration of the Forest--Economy of the Forest--Forest Legislation--Plantation of Forests In America--Financial Results of Forest Plantations--Instability of American LifeLand Artificially Won from the Waters--Great Works of Material Improvement--Draining of Lincolnshire Fens--Incursions of the Sea in the Netherlands--Origin of Sea-dikesOrigin of Sand--Canal of Suez--Maritime Canals in Greece--Canals to Dead Sea--Canals to Libyan Desert--Maritime Canals in Europe--Cape Cod Canal--Changes in Caspian--Diversion of the Nile--Diversion of the Rhine--Improvements in North American Hydrography--Soil below Rock--Covering Rock with Earth(cover image courtesy of michael lorenzo)