Forests and What They Give Us 



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organic material. This forest floor serves as a giant sponge dur- 

 ing heavy rains, holding back the water which otherwise would 

 flow rapidly into the streams causing floods and the wearing away 

 of valuable soil. Moreover, by enabling the water to pass off 

 slowly, the forest floor causes a more uniform flow in the streams, 

 and in this way often prevents low water as well as floods. 



Prevention of Erosion. We have all noticed that sloping 

 fields and dirt roads are soon cut into by a flow of water during 



York Stata Museum. 



A FINE FOREST GROWTH 



a rainstorm and that much soil is carried away. Rivers and 

 streams are constantly wearing down their banks and carrying off 

 the soil. Trees growing on their banks render a great service by 

 binding the soil together with their roots and so largely prevent 

 this destructive action of water. In hilly country without forests 

 this erosion may continue until only barren rock is left, and the 



