FORESTRY 



195 



mass of leaves and humus on the forest floor. This 

 water gradually sinks into the ground, and weeks and 

 months later it appears in springs that flow into the 

 streams. In this way floods are reduced and a greater 

 flow of water ob- 

 tained in the dry 

 months of the year. 

 These forests also 

 protect winter 

 snows from melt- 

 ing rapidly in the 

 spring, and thus 

 the flow of streams 

 is made more 

 regular. 



National forests. 

 - In order to con- 

 serve the water for 

 power and irriga- 

 tion the national 

 government has 

 formed large Na- 

 tional Forests in 

 the western states. 

 These forests occupy public lands, and thus are the 

 property of all the people of the United States. Xot 

 only will these forests regulate the flow of water for 

 power and irrigation, but they will be important sources 

 of lumber and other forest products. 



FORESTS PREVENT TH:: R\pn> FLOW OF WATER 

 DURING HEAVY RAINFALL 



