22-i INFLUENCE OF THE FOREST ON SPEINGS. 



" A small current of water, tlie brook of Caunan, takes its rise 

 in this forest, and receives tlie waters of two-thirds of its surface 

 At the lower extremity of the wood and on the stream are several 

 fulleries, each requiring a force of eight horse-power to drive the 

 water-wheels wliich work the stampers. The commune of La- 

 bruguiere had been for a long time famous for its opposition to 

 forest laws. Trespasses and abuses of the right of pasturage had 

 converted the wood into an immense waste, so that this vast 

 property now scarcely sufficed to pay the expense of protecting 

 it, and to furnish the inhabitants with a meagre supply of fuel. 

 While the forest was thus ruined, and the soil thus bared, the 

 water, after every abundant rain, made an eruption into the 

 valley, bringing down a great quantity of pebbles which still clog 

 the current of the Caunan. The violence of the floods was some- 

 times such that they were obliged to stop the machinery for some 

 time. During the summer another inconvenience was felt. If 

 the dry weather continued a little longer than usual, the delivery 

 of water became insignificant. Each fullery could for the most 

 part only employ a single set of stampers, and it was not unusual 

 to see the work entirely suspended. 



" After 1840, the municipal authority succeeded in enlighten- 

 ing the population as to their true interests. Protected by a 

 more watchful supervision, aided by well-managed replantation, 

 the forest has continued to improve to the present day. In pro- 

 portion to the restoration of the forest, the condition of the 

 manufactories has become less and less precarious, and the action 

 of the water is completely modified. For example, sudden and 

 violent floods, which formerly made it necessary to stop the ma- 

 chinery, no longer occur. There is no increase in the dehvery 

 until six or eight hours after the beginning of the rain; the 

 floods follow a regular progression till they reach their maxi- 

 mum, and decrease in the same manner. Finally, the fulleries 

 are no longer forced to suspend work in summer ; the water ia 

 always sufficiently abundant to allow the employment of two sets 

 of stampers at least, and often even of three. 



"This example is remarkable in this respect, that, all other 

 circumstances having remained the same, the changes in the 

 action of the stream can be attributed only to the restoration of 

 the forest — changes which may be thus summed up : dimimi- 



