110 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



In a volume entitled Forests and Moisture ; or Effects of 

 Forests on Humidity of Soil* I have stated facts which seem 

 to show that the past and present distribution of forests 

 over the earth has been affected by the distribution 

 of moisture; that subsequently the forests affect con- 

 siderably the distribution of the rainfall, both in time 

 and space: that the extensive destruction of forests is 

 followed by the rains becoming partial in their diffusion, 

 falling now here, now there, and leaving extensive stretches 

 of country un visited, and irregular in their occurrence, 

 falling often in thunder plumps instead of genial showers, 

 and falling only once and again after prolonged intervals, 

 instead of being diffused over several successive months in 

 the course of the year; that thus have agriculture and 

 horticulture in many lands been greatly injured ; and that 

 in some of these, and in other lands, enlightened statesmen 

 are exerting themselves by the conservation, restoration, 

 and extension of forests, to arrest, and, if possible, to avert, 

 the calamity. 



In another volume entitled Reboisement in France; or, 

 Records of the Replanting of the Alps, the Cevennes, and the 

 Pyrenees with Trees, Herbage, and Bush, with a view to arresting 

 and preventing the destructive consequences and effects of Torrents^ 

 I have given numerous details of the formation of torrents 

 and the occurrence of extensively devastating inundations 

 having followed the destruction of forests on mountain 

 sides and mountain summits ; and of these having ceased 

 on the mountains having been replanted with trees or 

 temporary substitutes. 



According to the information communicated to me, 

 there are extensive districts in Finland in which the 

 forests are so extensive and continuous that there is no 

 danger apparent of any such consequences following the 

 continued practice of Svedjande in these ; once and again I 

 have stated that in some of these the accidental destruc- 



* Edinburgh : Oliver & Boyd. London : Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. 1877. 

 t London : Paul Kegan & Co. 1876. 



