277 



gone, r^orests and civilization seem to l)e l^ound together in- 

 separably. 



The whole north coasts of Africa, L^alestine, and China were 

 at one time well forested and, with the vanishing of the trees, 

 these civilizations waned and are now at a low ebb. 



China is probably the best example of deforestation which we 

 have. Originally a country of great wealth, both in timber and 

 agricultural lands, the removal of the woods over very large areas 

 resulted in the destruction of the farms by allowing the rainfall 

 to rush unchecked down the hillsides in the form of torrents, 

 carrying large amounts of sand and gravel which have covered up 

 and destroyed the arable lands, drowned out the inhabitants, and 

 caused starvation from loss of crops and stoppage of trade which 

 has amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars. Today a large 

 part of China is a desolate, treeless country, where the inhabitants 

 are forced to use dung for fuel and to carry on the most inten- 

 sive form of agriculture in order to wring a meagre sustenance 

 from an impoverished soil. So scarce is wood fuel in certain 

 districts, due to China's indifference to forest protection in past 

 times, that the country has just begun to wake up and the citi- 

 zens are encouraged to plant trees by a drastic law, making death 

 the penalty for theft of young trees. 



The flood problem in China will not be permanently solved until 

 the different watersheds are properly clothed with trees and 

 protected. 



,1 

 Purity of Water. 



Forests influence favorably not only the abundance and con- 

 tinuity of the water flow, but its purity. Each of you will recall 

 that as a rule clear and pure water is found in mountainous re- 

 gions. Knowing that a large number of diseases are bred in soils, 

 it becomes essential that the drinking water carry as little soil 

 particles as possible, and although, by artificial means of filtration 

 and sedimentation, the river water may be freed of sand and 

 bacilli, we have more assurance of freedom from disease, if the 

 water comes from a well-forested region where no pathogenic 

 bacteria are produced. 



History of Forest Treatment. 



From every point of view the forest is one of the most helpful 

 friends of man and perhaps no other natural agent has done 

 so much for the human race and has been so recklessly used 

 and so little understood. 



The history of the forest has been the same in all parts of the 

 world, progressing according to the cultural development of the 

 people. 



First, the forest was valued only as a refuge for game ; then 

 it appeared as an impediment to agricultural development, as an 



