WOKLD'S TIMBER RESOURCES 231 



through the leaves of trees, there is a steady 

 though moderate evaporation from the surface 

 of the forest-clad soil also, thus restoring to the 

 air for future precipitation a portion of what 

 had been absorbed in the form of rain. 



" Bbermayer in recording the result of observa- 

 tions made in Bavaria on this subject says : 

 ' The forest alone, without the cover of dead 

 leaves, diminishes the evaporation by 62 per 

 cent as compared with that in the open. Evapora- 

 tion is consequently 2-6 times less in the forest. 

 A covering of dead leaves and vegetable mould 

 diminishes evaporation by a further 22 per cent. 

 Forests with an undisturbed covering of dead 

 leaves and vegetable mould lessen the evapora- 

 tion, as compared with that in the open, by 84 

 per cent.' " 



