222 Forestry Quarterly. 



following winter it was observed that the snow accumulated uniform- 

 ly on both sides of the walls and within 25 to 30 feet assumed its 

 natural depth; no snow shield formed along the structure, but on 

 both ends of it; hence an additional dam of about 1400 feet length, 

 12 feet high and S feet top width, loosely constructed from mater- 

 ial at hand, was erected. To protect the slopes of the dam sloping 

 1 in 4 feet, they were carefully paved, and in addition short spurs 

 were built on both sides every 75 to 100 feet, to induce more even 

 distribution of snow. These simple structures have worked with 

 perfect success in preventing avalanches for the last 8 or 9 years. 



In order to secure the full benefit of the reforestation work, the 

 pasture of goats had first to be stopped and the torrent regulated by 

 engineering works of the familiar type, barrages of dry wall work, 

 and drains by covered and open paved ditches, and wickerwork to 

 hold steep ground. The effectiveness o fthe latter is illustrated by 

 three illustrations of the same area, showing the changes after three 

 and five years. In three years a close wood growth of White Alder 

 was already established and after five years, spruce had begun to 

 creep in by natural sowing, and the protection was perfect. The 

 wickerwork, of course, presupposes a quieting of the waters by the 

 other means cited. Without such, the wickerwork can only retard 

 the superficial washing, but is apt to slide together with the ground. 

 Usually this wickerwork is expensive (20 cents per yard) and hence 

 is dispensed with. 



Reforestation was begun by sowing Alder seed mixed with sand 

 and wild flower seeds, followed by planting 3-year-old spruce trans- 

 plants and 2-year-old larch seedlings, and, in the higher altitudes, 

 4- to 6-year-old Pinus cembra; here, near the region of the ava- 

 lanches, group planting is most adequate. The cost of the different 

 works and plantings is given. 



In addition to the work at the head to regulate the lower course 

 of the torrent, the building of overall dams, a stone chute, and 4,000 

 feet of side walls to keep the waters within bounds were required. 

 A special feature here are series of traverses, made at small distan- 

 ces across the bed, by driving into the river bed three to four rows 

 of piles 5 feet long and 5 to 6 inches in diameter, and filling between 

 them solidly with stones cemented together, where needful, so that 

 a fall of 12 to 20 inches is formed. These traverses have proven 

 very effective where in front of larger dams the tendency to wash 

 out the bed is to be prevented. 



