SG 



w:if!nth of their soil to the air and earth to the leeward. Caimi states that since 

 the cutting down of the woods of the Apennines, the cold winds destroy or stunt 

 the vegetation, ;uid that, in consequence of "the usurpation of' winter on the 

 domain of spring," the district of Mugello has lost its mulberries, except the few 

 \v!'ii'h find, in the lee of buildings, a protection like that once furnished by the 

 foresl - 



INFLUENCE OF THE FOREST ON THE FLOW OF SPRINGS. 



It is an almost universal and I believe well-foundel opinion that the protec 

 tion aft', "i-i led by the forest against the escape of moisture from its soil by super- 

 ficial flow and evaporation, insures the permanence and regularity of natural 

 springs, not only within the limits of the wood, but at some distance beyond 

 its borders, and thus contributes to the supply of an elememt essential to both 

 vegetable and animal life. As the forests are destroyed, the springs which flow 

 from the woods, and consequently the greater watercourses fed by them, diminish 

 both in number and in volume. This fact is so familiar throughout the American 

 States and the British Provinces that there are few old residents of the interior 

 of those districts who are not able to testify to its truth as a matter of personal 

 observation. 



The hills in the Atlantic States formerly abounded in springs and brooks,, 

 but in many parts of these States, which were cleared a generation or two ago, 

 the hill pastures now suffer severely from drought, and in dry seasons furnish to 

 cattle neither grass nor water. 



Almost every treatise on the economy of the forest adduces facts in support 

 of the doctrine that the clearing of the woods tends to diminish the flow of springs 

 and the humidity of the soil. 



Marchand cites the following instances: 



" Before the felling of the woods within the la^t few years, in the valley of 

 the Soulce, the Combe-es-Mounin and the Little Valley, the Some furnished a 

 regular and sufficient supply of water for the iron works of Unterwyl, which was 

 almost unaffected by drought or by heavy rains. The Some has now become a 

 torrent, every shower occasions a flood, and after a few days of fine weather, the 

 current falls so low that it has been necessary to change the water wheels, because 

 those of the old construction are no longer able to drive the machinery, and at last 

 to introduce a steam engine to prevent the stoppage of the works for want of 

 water." 



"The spring of Combefoulat, in the commune of Seleate, was well known as 

 one of the best in the country ; it was remarkably abundant, and sufficient, in 

 the severest droughts, to supply all the fountains of the town; but as soon as 

 considerable forests were felled in (Jombe-de-pre Martin and in the valley of 

 Combefoulat, the famous spring, which lies below these woods, has become a mere 

 thread of water, and disappears altogether in times of drought." 



"The Wolf spring, in the commune of Soubey, furnishes a remarkable 

 example of the influence of the woods upon fountains. A few years ago this 

 spring did not exist. At the place where it now rises, a small thread of 

 water was observed after very long rains, but the stream disappeared with the 

 rain. The spot is in the middle of a very steep pasture inclining to the south. 

 Eighty years ago, the owner of the land, perceiving that young firs were shooting 

 up in the upper part of it, determined to let them grow, and they soon formed a 

 flourishing grove. As soon as they were well grown, a fine spring appeared in 

 place of the occasional rill, and furnished abundant water in the longest droughts. 

 For forty or fifty years this spring was considered the best in the Clos du Doubs. 





