156 OUTLINES OF FORESTRY. 



perpetually maintaining forest tracts in portions 

 of the earth set aside for such purposes. 



Where the loss of the soil following the destruc- 

 tion of the forests has been too marked to permit 

 the successful replanting of trees, some of the evil 

 effects following rapid drainage, such, for exam- 

 ple, as disastrous floods, with their consequent 

 droughts, have been in a measure lessened by re- 

 planting the bare surface with different species of 

 hardy grasses, which, by absorbing and holding 

 the rain, permit the water to drain slowly off the 

 surface. 



The time required for the full growth of forest 

 trees is so great that, unless considerable encour- 

 agement is given to the planting of trees, reforesta- 

 tion will scarcely be attempted to any considerable 

 extent. In most cases where reforestation has been 

 attempted, laws have been enacted offering certain 

 premiums, either in land or in money, for success- 

 ful tree-planting. 



Where reforestation is carried out on a large 

 scale, under the encouragement of a government, it 

 is desirable that either seeds or seedlings be sup- 

 plied by the government, or that extensive nur- 

 series be established. Great care must be taken 

 to insure the planting of the varieties of trees best 



