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they are big or little, nor the large forest trees that
still fortunately exist in some numbers scattered
about the district, that affect the public health, but
the perfect jungle that so many householders encourage
in their front and back gardens and seem
to love to cultivate, that are so prejudicial. They
darken the lower rooms of the houses, keep the
ground damp and sour, and obstruct the proper
access of fresh and wholesome air to the lower
parts of the houses. During the night, when the
warm self-contained air naturally rises and to
some extent passes out of the upper part of the
house, its place is supplied by air coming in at the
basement or ground floor ; and if this has to be
filtered through bushes and undergrowth mixed
with the exhalations from damp soil charged with
decaying organic matter, it is small wonder that
some households find themselves specially liable to
sore throats or indifferent health. These not
infrequently are never advised as to the possible
cause, but incontinently refer it to the neighbourhood
as a whole, and either go on suffering
or pack up and leave the place. The big trees
(due regard of course being had to their soundness)
have an important part in keeping up the salubrity
and equable climate that is peculiar to this part of
the Thames Valley. They serve as wind screens,
and act the same part as a break-water does in
subduing the violence of the waves. Remove
them to any large extent, and undoubtedly as a
consequence of becoming more wind swept the
temperature will be sensibly lower in winter, and
the character of the whole of the district altered.
Th is is a well-known fact, and de-foresting on a
large scale has been found to alter the climate of
considerable tracts of country very much for the
worse ; and what is true on a large scale may
justly be anticipated to be equally so on a small.
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