THE APPALACHIAN FORESTS 69 



has been completely confuted by Prof. "On the other hand, when the forest 



George F. Swain, the expert formerly is cut away, the basins are broken down, 



of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- all obstructions to the flow of water are 



nology, now of Harvard University, removed, the humus is destroyed, and 



The hostile opinion of the military en- nature's reservoir is swept away, allow- 



gineering officer is in direct opposition ing the water to run quickly into the 



to that of the entire force engaged un- larger streams, causing destructive 



dor the Forester of the United States, floods. Many times great damage and 



It is in direct opposition to the experi- sometimes unhealthful conditions fol- 



ence of China, of France, and of Spain, low. When the storm is over, the flood 



where the denudation of forest-clad subsides, the water is soon gone, and 



hills has led to a succession of freshets dry creek-beds appear. 



and droughts on what were once fertile "Last August the upper Hudson had 



slopes and, except where reforestation no more than two inches of water where 



has taken place, has reduced the agri- once it flowed deep and strong the year 



cultural population that once tilled round. The water last August in Lakes 



.those soils by sweeping away the very George and Champlain was a foot and 



soil itself. a half lower than ever before. 



Mr. James S. Whipple, forest com- "More than 300 years ago France, 



missioner of New York, very truly said in an evil day, permitted that which we 



in his address at Bretton Woods, N. H., are now permitting, to wit : the cutting 



last summer, of the forest as a na- off of all its trees, which left its hillsides 



tional reservoir : "Without forests we and mountain tops uncovered. The 



can have but little water. A study of agricultural lands were much injured ; 



this natural reservoir proves the im- the water supply much reduced. It had 



portance and imperative necessity of no forest, the hillsides were eroded, the 



preserving our forests. Let us ex- soil was washed away. Then a splen- 



amine it : The trees are part of it ; did man, realizing the enormity of the 



the leaves on the trees are part of it ; evil that had come to his country, 



the twigs, old logs, limbs, and fallen started out on a campaign of education 



leaves are a part of it. All of these over France, urging the people to plant 



catch, delay, and hold back the rain- trees. Since then the French people 



drops as they fall. If you will observe have expended more than two hundred 



the conditions of the forest floor you million dollars in trying to reforest their 



will notice that between the trees there waste land, and they have more work 



are little basins in the ground, caused yet to do." 



by the roots of the trees holding up the The opponents of Appalachian forest 



soil. These basins catch and hold the reserves present as their second objec- 



rain. Then underneath it all, formed tion : 



from decaying leaves, twigs, limbs, and 2. The acquisition of forest reserves 



logs for a thousand years, is a black by the National Government is uncon- 



mold called humus. This humus has stitutional, 



greater power to take up and hold Why? 



moisture than any other know vegetable The Constitution in terms was or- 

 or animal matter. Then the leaves, dained and established to "promote the 

 limbs, trees, the dead and decaying general welfare." If the establishment 

 debris upon the ground, the little hoi- of a permanent source of timber sup- 

 lows or basins between the trees, and ply, the preservation of water and of 

 this humus are all parts of this perfect water-power, the drainage of cities, and 

 reservoir, built on nature's plan, detain- the preservation of the public health, 

 ing, holding, and keeping back the all of which are provided by the acqui- 

 water, allowing it to soak into the sition of forest reserves, do not make 

 ground to feed the little springs, thence for the promotion of the general wel- 

 the creeks, and keep the water flowing fare, what in heaven's name does make 

 slowly from the hills all the year round. for it? 



