314 A FOREST TOUR AMONG THE DUNES OF GASCONY, 
On ascending to a higher level, we looked across the main 
valley, and noticed that a good many torrents were in process of 
formation on the opposite side, a mile or so below Barréges. The 
general appearance of the country led us to suppose that the 
bottom of the main valley was once filled by a glacial bed, 
through which the present stream has forced its way; and the 
secondary torrents, now cutting through the unstable sides, must 
be dealt with at once before they go too far. It is the intention 
of the Government to buy the land with this object. We next 
entered a plantation of Pin a crochet (Pinus montana, Miller) 
and Pin noir (Pinus laricio, Poir), planted in clumps, Many 
of these are dying off, and M. Luze, the Inspector, who accom- 
panied us, feels considerable anxiety regarding their future. It 
seems probable that the trees, having got into an unhealthy 
condition, are attacked by a fungus, and, subsequently, by the 
insects, which we found in many of those we examined, With 
regard to the system of planting in clumps, it is said that the 
plants impede one another’s growth, and that it is much better to 
put them in singly. These plantations extend up to an altitude 
of 7250 ft., larch being used above 6500. The plants are grown 
in temporary nurseries, which alone are suitable for mountainous 
regions, not only on account of the difficulty of carrying the 
plants over long distances, but also because the young seedlings 
should always be grown at the same level, and as nearly as 
possible under the same conditions as those in which they are to 
find themselves, when they have been put out. Before turning 
homewards, we had an excellent view of the snow-capped peaks, 
including the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (9440 ft.), which was close 
to us. 
We returned home by the valley of the Pontif torrent, which is 
in a bad state, but has not yet been taken in hand. This gave us 
an excellent opportunity of studying the condition in which these 
torrents are found, before the works to regulate them have been 
undertaken, 
Returning to Toulouse, next day we noticed that the lower 
spurs of the Pyrenees, which are well wooded, are, generally 
speaking, covered with a simple coppice of beech, cut in vertical 
strips. This tends to the formation of torrent beds, which 
indeed appeared to be commencing in many places. Thence we 
travelled direct to Nancy, where we arrived on the 6th of May. 
