230 Forestry Quarterly 



The rapid melting of snow (owing to rain, warm winds and 

 intense sun) or simple rain storms cause most of the disastrous 

 floods. III. "Deforestation and abuse of enjoyment." Mougin 

 still believes in the four axioms of Surrell which are so well 

 known in France: "(a) The presence of a forest on a soil stops 

 the formation of torrents; (b) The destruction of a forest makes 

 the soil a prey to the torrents; (c) The development of forests 

 tends to wipe out torrents; (d) The fall of forests revives tor- 

 rents (Eteints)." 



The causes recited under III are of most interest to American 

 foresters, since I and II are so clearly applicable that no further 

 details are necessary to a clear understanding. But the dangers 

 of forest destruction on mountains cannot be emphasized too fre- 

 quently and it is particularly instructive to examine systematically 

 the causes of torrents in Savoie. These are summarized in the 

 order followed by the author. 1. Increase in population: over- 

 population forced overcultivation as well as overgrazing, and the 

 deforestation of land that should have been maintained in forest 

 cover. If a scientific classification of the land could have first 

 been attempted, then these unfortunate results could have been 

 avoided. 2. Undue spirit of gain. At first the demands of 

 drought and war necessitated larger agricultural and pastoral 

 areas to supply the demands made upon the local population. Then 

 came a spirit of gain ; if one village profited by extensive grazing, 

 why not another? The convents and monasteries increased this 

 demand for cleared land. Trespass on the forest, legalized by 

 too liberal laws, and illegal theft, added to the ruin. Then, too, 

 the deforestation was linked with the local military history of the 

 country ; when occupied by hostile troops a great deal of damage 

 resulted. In 1853 two-fifths of the coppice of Savoie was cut 

 every five or six years! One can judge of the destruction at 

 this time when it is stated there were 8,000 trespass cases a year 

 against 25,000 people. Most of these went unpunished because 

 of the small number of forest officers. 3. Grazing. Unregulated 

 and unrestricted grazing was universal ; in the coppice, in the fir 

 stands, amongst the spruce, birch and pine, especially in the 

 youngest stands. Unfortunately for the regeneration, beef and 

 milk stock were less numerous than goats, sheep or swine. "At 

 the time of the annexation in 1860, one could say that every forest 



