316 



TIMBER TREES 



granular soil beneath, instead of draining off quickly into 

 streams. The roots, too, form natural channels for the 

 seepage or entrance of water into the soil. In the winter 

 and spring, also, the forest cover prevents the snow from 

 rapid melting and in this way enables the snow water to 

 penetrate the soil instead of running away in destructive 

 freshets. 



And water not only enters the forest soil more easily 

 than that of the open ; it likewise leaves the forest soil 



A WINDBREAK. 

 Show why this is not satisfactory. 



more slowly. Evaporation is retarded by the protection 

 afforded by the trees against wind and sunshine. It has 

 been estimated that a wood lot may furnish 50 per cent 

 more available water for springs and subsoil than an 

 open field with the same rainfall. And the subsoil water, 



