96 Proceedings oi^ the 



greater part of the precipitation rushing over the sur- 

 face to lower levels. Only a small percentage of the 

 rainfall is retained at the higher elevations, hence there 

 is but little seepage to feed the streams and they become 

 dry soon after the flood waters subside. 



I cannot here enter into the various observations and 

 researches made under my direction during the past 

 four years, which bear upon the relation of forest cover 

 to stream flow. These investigations and the conclu- 

 sions which they appear to warrant are soon to be pub- 

 lished in bulletin form by the Bureau of Forestry, U. 

 S. Department of Agriculture. 



The single point that I here desire to emphasize is 

 this: forest cover in mountain streams, through its 

 influence upon erosion, has a very appreciable effect 

 upon physiographic form, and this effect of the forest 

 working through long periods of time, is of the utmost 

 importance in its influences upon the flow of mountain 

 streams. 



