112 



FOREST INFLUENCES. 



At the end of the first year's observations M. Becquerel calls atten- 

 tion to the larger amount of rainfall at the more wooded stations; at 

 the end of three years, however, he ])ractically recalls this mild sug- 

 gestion. The observations were taken for two years only at Le Cliarme 

 and were corrected to make a mean corresponding to that for the three 

 years at the other stations. M. Becquerel also exiimined the relations 

 of rainfalls to forests iu Denmark, but the results were somewhat am- 

 biguous. 



The observations made near ISTaru-y were arranged in such a way 

 that some conclusions could be drawn as to the relative rainfall among 

 forests and in open country. 



Cinq-Franchees was in the midst of the large wooded ]>lateau called 

 the forest of La Haye, composed of deciduous trees about forty years 

 old. 



The field station was in an open space of 10 or more acres, iu which 

 was the house of the forester. It was five miles southwest of Xancy. 

 Bellefontaine was on the edge of the forest, about four miles northwest 

 of Nancy. The field station was uncultivated land, devoted to nur- 

 series. It was in the bottom of a valley running northwest and south- 

 east. Six miles northeast of Nancy was the station of Amance, near 

 the summit of a hill, and surrounded by cultivated lands, not entirely 

 treeless, but devoid of forests. Observations were begun later at the 

 agricultural station near Nancy. It was in the open fields about 

 eleven miles from the forest of La Haye. There are only seven years 

 of observations from this station, but eleven from the others. The 

 menu annual precipitation at these stations is gi\ en in the accompany 

 ing table: 



station. 



Condition. 



Cinq-Francli6es Forest . 



Bellefontaine i Forest . 



Amance Open . . 



Nancy Open . . 



Mean 



of eleven 



years. 



Inches. 

 31.5 

 .".0. 7 

 25.7 



The stations at Cinq-Franchees and Amance are as comparable as 

 stations can be made, and the forest precipitation proves to be about 

 7 inches greater than that of the open fields. Bellefontaine, on the 

 edge of the forest, has an appreciably greater precipitation than Nancy. 

 These stations Avere all under one direction, and their results may be 

 considered as significant, especially as to the first and third, which are 

 at the same elevation. The position of the second is unfortunately of 

 such a character that its rainfall might be very sensibl}^ affected. 



The rainfall at parallel pairs of field stations has been determined 

 by a series of careful observations. These stations are always near 



