xxxii Appendix. 
It is impossible to treat this part of our subject without reference to the 
preceding one, the argument being that forests by their presence act as 
storehouses of moisture, both from their leafy canopy which covers the earth 
and the bed of dead leaves on its surface, the loss of moisture by evapora- 
tion being by these means reduced to one-fifth, as stated above ; and that, 
further, the bed of dead leaves acts like a sponge, soaking up and retaining 
the rain and regulating its distribution, whilst the roots not only “act as 
vertical drains, promoting the descent of the water into the lower strata of 
the earth, there to nourish the springs,” but bind the soil on the mountain- 
sides together, and prevent its being carried away into the valley below. In 
short, it may be said that the forests exercise both a preventative and 
. curative effect—first, preventing the rapid running off of heavy rain, and 
storing it up for gradual distribution ; and, second, impeding the flow of 
water in its course, if already accumulated and coming down from bare or 
snow-covered heights above. 
The disastrous effects caused by over-clearing of forests, in the shape of 
torrents and inundations, have been felt in many countries ; but I think it 
will suffice if we instance France, where the subject has attracted more 
attention and at last been more thoroughly grappled with than anywhere 
else. 
The case of France may also be considered as peculiarly applicable, and 
affords a valuable lesson to this country; for it was in the fancied best 
interests of the owners of sheep and cattle that the forests on the Alps and 
Pyrenees were gradually destroyed, to make way for more grass and more 
sheep: indeed, it is only quite recently that the representatives of these 
interests in the Communes affected have really awoke to the fact, that their 
interests and lives were at stake, and appear anxious to co-operate with the 
Forest Officers in re-clothing the hills. Dr. Croumbie Brown, in his book 
on “ Reboissement in France," already mentioned, gives a detailed account 
of the eauses which led to the elearance of the forests in the Higher and 
Lower Alps, the Loire, and the Pyrenees, the results in the shape of 
torrents, landslips, inundations, ete., and the remedial measures now in 
progress, which are calculated to extend over 140 years, and cost at least 
half a million sterling, besides the pay of the Forest Officers employed. 
Our time to-night does not admit of my following him even very cursorily ; 
but I would strongly recommend a perusal of this and other works by the 
same author by all who take an interest in the subject.* The description 
which he gives, and which is unfortunately eorroborated by far too many 
authorities to be doubted, of the devastations committed by the torrents, 
gradually augmenting year by year as each patch of forest and scrub was 
* Published by King & Co., London. 
