444 APPENDIX. 



woods. This author came to practically the same con- 

 clusion regarding the humidity of the forest and the open 

 country. 



Influence of Forests upon Water and Soil 

 Conditions. 



(i) In consequence of deforestation, evaporation from the 

 soil is augmented and accelerated, resulting in unfavorable 

 conditions of soil humidity and affecting unfavorably the size 

 and continuity of springs. The influence of forest cover upon 

 the flow of springs is due to this reduced evaporation as well 

 as to the fact that by the protecting forest cover the soil is 

 kept granular and allows more water to penetrate and perco- 

 late than would otherwise. In this connection, however, it is 

 the condition of the forest floor that is of greatest importance. 

 Where the litter and humus mould is burned up, as in many if 

 not most of our mountain forests, this favorable influence is 

 largely destroyed, although the trees are still standing. 



(2) Snow is held longer in the forest and its meldng is re- 

 tarded, giving longer time for filtration into the ground, which 

 also being frozen to less depth is more apt to be open for sub- 

 terranean drainage. Altogether forest conditions favor in 

 general larger subterranean and less surface drainage, yet the 

 moss or litter of the forest floor retains a large part of the pre- 

 cipitation and prevents its filtration to the soil, and thus may 

 diminish the supply to springs. This is especially possible 

 with small precipitations. Of copious rains and large amounts 

 of snow water, quantities, greater or less, penetrate the soil, 

 and according to its nature into lower strata and to springs. 

 This drainage is facilitated not only by the numerous chan- 

 nels furnished by dead and living roots, but also by the influ- 

 ence of the forest cover in preserving the loose and porous 

 structure of the soil. 



Although the quantity of water offered for drainage on 

 naked soil is larger, and although a large quantity is utilized 



