118 MODERN FOREST ECONOMY. 



the mountain forests, and the greatest possible attention is 

 now paid to the subject by all the Cantonal Governments 

 of Switzerland.' 



I have cited [ante ^). 110] an opinion expressed by M. 

 Reynard at a conference held in Algeirs in November 

 1881, to the effect that it would be economically advan- 

 tageous to incur an immense expenditure on reboisement 

 in Algieria. In proposing the French Forest Budget for the 

 preceding year, 1880, the same argument was made use of 

 by the Budget Committee of the Legislature. 



Under the head of Constructions, Reboisements, and 

 Gazonnements, an additional million was asked for chiefly 

 for works of reboisement, for which it was stated good 

 use would be found if a desired augmentation of 50,600 

 francs referred to were granted. After the disasters 

 occasioned in 1875 by the overflowing of the Garonne 

 and the Herault, and their affluents, the Minister of 

 Finance and the Minister of Public Works had given 

 assurance that measures would be concerted between the 

 departments over which they respectively presided, to be 

 taken with a view to prevent the re-occurrence of such 

 calamities. Many surveys, which were subsequently 

 undertaken, had been completed, but, in the absence of 

 funds, the works of reboisement had not been begun. 

 Subsequently the Minister of Public Works had, as has 

 been stated, solicited the co-operation of the Forest 

 Administration to give a specification of works urgently 

 called for in Savoie. Information furnished by the 

 Engineers of Roads and Bridges showed that the four 

 torrents of Saint-Martin, the Grillaz, the Pousset, and the 

 Saint-Julien, all affluents of the Arc, were causing every 

 year great destruction, and it was of importance to arrest 

 this without delay. And, as was stated by the Minister 

 of Public Works, every system of extinction of torrents is 

 based on the reboisement of the basin of reception. The 

 work was to be undertaken in the coming '^spring by officials 

 already designated, and they would be partially completed 



