INFLUENCE OF FORESTS: SWITZERLAND. 373 



slowly to the surface and filters into the gronnd, as does also that which falls directly 

 upon the soil and goes to feed the springs. This more especially takes place when 

 the forests completely cover a soil that is mellow and rich in hjimus. It is difficult 

 to explain this numerically, as no data have heeu collected, but the statement agrees 

 perfectly with the experiences of the older inhabitants in mountainous regions, and 

 its correctness cannot be doubted. Tbe canton of Appenzal, however, furnishes 

 records showing that the waters of the Weisenbach formerly did not rise at Weisen- 

 bad after great storms until three hours afterward, while this phenomenon now occurs 

 half an hour after. If this occurs in a case like this, where the upper country is par- 

 tially wooded, it should occur in much greater degree in countries that are entirely 

 cleared. 



2. The fact is not denied that brooks and rivers carry nowadays a larger amount of 

 debris than formerly, in consequence of the great clear cuttings and extepsive thin- 

 ning of woods. The waters Howing rapidly, carry along all the loose earth, and wear 

 ravines that extend from year to year. The beds of water-courses which are not rocky 

 are worn and enlarged by the force of the waters that fall into their valleys, and often 

 by the attrition of floating wood. The waters wash off upon the slopes a part of the 

 fertile soil, forming guUeys, and often the entire slope may glide to the bottom, cover- 

 ing with its ddbria a large part of the valleys, rendering them incapable of cultiva- 

 tion. Many cases of this are seen in all valleys, as on the right bank of the Linth 

 and Seetz, the south slopes on the Rhine, all the valleys in the southern Alps, and in 

 those of the Reuss, Aar, and Rhone. In the more southern parts, which are the most 

 cleared, if instead of gneiss which resists this action, we meet with shales or slates 

 that arc easily woru away, the devastation becomes so great that the inhabitants have 

 been driven from the country. 



3. This irregular flow of water, and damages to the fertility of the valleys, in- 

 crease daily, and the sad effects above indicated are uniformly caused by inconsider- 

 ate clearings on the mountains. The debris brought in by the streams encumber the 

 main channels, in which the descent may not be sufScient to allow of its being carried 

 down, so that the waters are forced to seek new beds; fertile lands are buried, and 

 whole valleys are transformed into desolate wastes of rocks and rubbish. These dis- 

 asters not only affect the mountaineers, but likewise those dwelling in the fertile val- 

 leys below, wh<'8e estates become only great receptacles for the deposit of these trans- 

 ported materials. The damages to the lower valleys consist in the inundation of lands 

 adjoini 'g the streams, and injuries to the banks, and these overflows cause greater 

 damages as the channels become filled up so that the waters cannot flow freely. The 

 mountain cantons are therefore not the only ones interested in knowing whether we 

 should not improve our forest economies not only in the mountain regions, but through- 

 out the whole country. 



We have only too many examples of these deplorable results. The Rhine, the 

 Moesa, and all the streams in Tessin that fall into Lake Maggiore, and in particular 

 the Maggia, the Reuss, the Aar, and the Emme, as also the Rhone and other streams of 

 less extent, demonstrate this fact so clearly that no doubts can be raised as to the cause 

 and manner of the process. The lands laid waste in the finest valleys of Tessin, in 

 consequence of these irregularities in the water-courses, form nearly half of the whole of 

 the valley lands. These devastations are the most considerable that are found in 

 Switzerland, because the clearing off of the forest began earlier, and went on more 

 rapidly, than in other sections of the country. 



4. The dikes raised at great expense, along the banks of the principal water-courses, 

 are in no case a success, as the works have been almost always mined by the waters 

 soon after being finished. This was not because of defective construction, nor imper- 

 fect general plan, but because instead of undertaking to cure the evil at its source wo 

 have, on the contrary, gone on continually clearing oh' the forests, and have taken no 

 caro for their preservation. The works undertaken in tbe lateral valleys have failed, 

 because they have soon filled up with the debris, and have prevented the water from 

 clearing out its bed. The reports of the engineers charged with the hydraulic part of 

 this inquiry, will give the necessary details. 



5. The many places where the soil becomes unfertile, as well on the mountains as in 

 the valleys, diminish materially the production, and change the aspect of the country. 

 These changes are almost entiiely due to the inconsiderate clearing off of forests. We 

 do not pretend that they may not occur in some degree without these clearings, but 

 they are very greatly aggravated by this cause. 



6. The clearing off of mountains arrests the development of industries, and renders 

 the introduction of those that require wood imp-ssible, because — 



a. Most industries can only prosper in countrifs where they can easily obtain the 

 fuel that they need. 



b. The slight security which the banks offer, renders it diflScult even in mountainous 

 regions, to establish mills using water-power. 



c. We cannot use water as a motive power to advantage, oven on the plains, where 

 it can be brought from the mountains, unless we have lakes as reservoirs, on account 

 of the irregularities in the levels, which prevent regular operations. 



