Foreskin

( Anat.) The prepuce. Forespoken, a. Previously spoken. For'est, n. [Fr. forêt; L. Lat. forest a; Ger. forst.] An extensive surface of country naturally covered with trees and undergrowth, as distinguished from a plantation which has been made by art. Forests are interesting in many ways, as they may be said to mark the track of civilization, besides being of the utmost utility to man, both from local as well as atmospherical influences. The Caledonian and Hercynian forests are the first we read of as celebrated in history; the former being the retreat of the Picts and Scots in North Britain, the latter extending from Switzerland to Transylvania. In the time of Cæsar, a journey through this forest was computed to last over sixty days, or more. Forests were greatly the water flow, forests become of prime Importance as For'estville, in Illinois. See FOREST STATION. producers of a cheap source of water power. In the -A village of Stephen son co. future, as coal becomes harder to obtain, this importance For'estville, in Indiana, a village of Madison co., will be even more marked than at present. Forest, a. Relating to a forest; sylvan; rustic. -v. a. To cover with trees or wood. a field of occupation to the hunter and lumberman. European forests are mostly composed of oak, elm, beech, poplar, ash, alder, plane, willow, lime, and birch, not to speak of the numbers of wild apple, pear, and other fruit trees; besides pine, fir, and cypre in pro- fusion, with many species of brushwood and vines. In Norway, the forest-land extends up to Drontheim, which is in latitude 63° north. Switzerland is well wooded, and oaks and firs are found at a level over 4,000 feet above the sea. France has some fine examples, her variety of climate being favorable to the growth of many species of trees, some of which, indeed, belong to a much warmer climate; the forests of the Ardennes, Fore's taff, n. ( Naut .) An instrument formerly used For'est, in Mi i ippi , a post-village, cap. of Scott co. For'est, in New York , a post-office of Clinton co. For'est, in Ohio , a post-village of Hard in co., about 36 m. N. by E. of Belle font aine. For'est, in Pennsylvania, a N.N.W. co.; area , about 410 sq. m. Rivers, Clarion or Toby's river, and Tionesta creek. Surface , broken; soil, fertile. Cap . Tionesta. Pop . (1890) 8,482. Comp eigne, and Fontainebleau may be mentioned as instances of the expanses she has covered with trees. In Italy, the plains of Ravenna afford a wide scope for the luxuriance of forest-life, and the pine grows there very extensively; most of the oak, too, used in the English navy for shipbuilding purposes, comes from Italy. In Germany, the Schwarzwald (Black Forest), Thu ringer-Wald, Spe art, ., are of considerable extent and distinguished for picturesquene . There the forests are cultivated and preserved with the strictest care by the governments of the different States. Ru ia, however, bears away the palm for her abundance of forests, and some of the finest timber in the world comes from her ports on the Baltic. The districts of Tver and Novgorod are regularly covered with wood, and the forest of Volkousky is considered the largest in Europe. Poland, too, resembles Ru ia in this matter, and she may be considered the second best well-wooded country. But for the king of forests, the reader must look to our continent, where, both in the north and south, the vegetation appears to po e no limits. In the United States, neverthele , the forests, though yet of immense extent, are rapidly disappearing, through the immigration into the country, and the diffusion of the settlers; but in South America, the whole of the valley of the Amazon, which embraces one-third of the entire area of that country, is one vast forest. It would be impo ible to give an account of the various species of trees which are there to be found; for there are apparently a vast number, and the size of the individual trees is generally stupendous. England also, in early times, was covered with forests, which subsequently, as being waste land, came to be regarded as the property of the crown; and, as abounding with game of various kinds, were carefully protected, and were seized for the crown-as for example what became the "New Forest" -all persons being prohibited from hunting in them but the king or persons authorized by him. After the time of the Conquest the forests came to be guarded with greater strictne , their number was increased, and their bounds enlarged, and trespa ers were punished with greater severity. Finally, a system of laws and courts for their administration was established, by which not only all offences touching the royal forests were tried, but all persons living upon these properties governed. The Conqueror is said to have po e ed 68 forests, 13 chases, and 781 parks. A chase is a smaller kind of forest, not subject to the forest laws, and which may be in the hands of a subject; whereas a forest can only be held by the crown. A park differs from a forest or chase in being of smaller extent and inclosed. The Conqueror, who is said to have regarded the red deer with a sort of parental affection, enacted very severe penalties against trespa ers, and the killing of a stag or boar was visited with lo of sight. His succe ors were credited with still greater severity, and it is said that the killing of any of the beasts of chase within a forest was punishable as murder. Vast tracts of country were depopulated in order to create new forests, or to extend the limits of old ones, and under the color of forest-law the most cruel and horrid oppre ions were exercised. At length, however, many of these hardships were removed by the charta de forest a , obtained in the 9th year of Henry III., the immunities of which, says Black stone, were "as warmly contended for, and extorted from the king with as much difficulty, as those of the Magna Charta itself." This law, still unrepealed, declares that "no man from henceforth shall lose either life or member for killing our deer; but if any man be taken and convicted for taking of our venison, he shall make a grievous fine if he have anything whereof; and if he have nothing to lose, he shall be imprisoned a year and a day, and after that time, if he cannot find sufficient sureties, he shall abjure the realm."-The principal forests of England are the New Forest, Sherwood, Dean, Windsor, Epping, Dartmoor, Wychwood, in Oxfords hire; Salcey, Whittle bury, and Rocking ham, in North amp tons hire; Waltham, in Lincoln shire; and Richmond, in Yorkshire. During the reign of Queen Victoria, several of the royal tracts have been disafforested. According to Humboldt, the direct influence of forests on climate is a diminution of temperature, which is effected either by screening the soil from the heat of the sun's rays, by the evaporation of moisture from the leaves, or, thirdly, by the uneven surface which the leaves offer to the cooling proce of radiation. The indirect influence of forests is the due preservation of moisture in the different countries, in the supply of rivers, and in other ways. As concerning For'est, in Wisconsin, a township of Fond du Lac co. -A town of of Rich land co., about 15 m. N.W. of Rich land Centre. -A township of Vernon co. about 20 m. N. by W. of Anderson. Forestville, in Iowa , a post-office of Delaware co. For'estville, in Maryland , a P. O. of Prince George co. Forestville, in Michigan , a village of Gene see co., abt. 16 m. N.E. of Flint. -A post-village of Sanilac co., on Lake Huron, abt. 32 m. N. of Lexington. Forestville, in Minnesota , a post-township of Fill more co., abt. 7 m. W. by S. of Preston. Forestville, in N. Carolina, a post-village of Wake co., abt. 15 m. W. of Raleigh. Forestville, in New York , a post-village of Chautau- qua co., about 8 m. S.E. of Dunkirk. Forestville, in South Carolina , a P. O. of Florence co Forestville, in Virginia , a P. O. of Shenandoah c0. Forestville, in Wisconsin, a post-township of Door co., abt. 2 m. W. of Lake Michigan. Fore'taste, n. Previous enjoyment or experience; antepast. for taking the altitude of heavenly bodies. For'estage, n. [Fr., from L. Lat. forestagium .] ( Eng . Law .) A duty formerly paid to the king's foresters. Also, a service paid by foresters to the king of England. Forestal, a. Pertaining to forests. Forestall', v. a. [ Fore , and STALL, q. v.] To intercept Foretell'er, n. One who predicts or prophesies; a and buy up corn and provisions, before they arrive at -v. a. To have previous enjoyment or experience, as of something; to anticipate. To taste before another. Foretell', v . a . ( imp . and pp . FORETOLD.) To tell before an event happens; to foretoken; to foreshow; to predict. -v.n. To utter prediction or prophecy. fore shower.