254 ACTION OF FORESTS OX THE FLOW OF RIVERS. 



lu not a few of the statements which are given in preceding chap- 

 ters in regard to the effects of the destruction of forests, mention is 

 made of what had previously been perennial streams being often dry, 

 while at other times the water-course was filled from bank to bank 

 with a rushing torrent. There might be as much water delivered by 

 these in the course of the year as ever there was — though this might 

 be questionable, and the observations cited by Herr Wex, and given 

 above, show that in some of the principal rivers of Europe a greatly 

 increased irregularity of flow has been accompanied by a diminished 

 annual delivery — but the flow was irregular, and the correction of 

 this is a consequence of the absorption referred to. Among the con- 

 sequences of this may be reckoned the following : — 



1. The devastating and destructive effects of floods are mitigated, if 

 not altogether prevented. 2. The prolonged retention of the rainfall in 

 an inland situation increases both the moisture of the atmosphere 

 and of the soil, by prolonging the periods of evaporation and infiltra- 

 tion. 3. From both of these effects will follow other consequences 

 tending to perpetuate the results so obtained. 4. Not only will the 

 promotion of vegetation, desirable as an end, be accomplished, but 

 one of the meteorological effects of vegetation, the increased or 

 maintained humidity of the atmosphere, will be secured. 



