Vi PEEFAOB. 



giving tabulated statements as well as details, showing how effectually 

 reboisement had arrested torrents, and showing further, that for the comple- 

 tion of the works in the Alps, in the Cevennes, and the plateau of Central 

 France, and in tho Pyrenees, there would be required 148 millions of francs, 

 upwards of six millions sterling, and 72 millions more, upwards of three 

 millions sterling, for the purchase of land. And they unanimously recom- 

 mended that a credit for the whole amount applied for should be granted. 

 " We are all," say they in the concluding sentence of their report, " deeply 

 impressed with the thought — better far spend a million in reboisement than 

 have to give such a sum to sufferers from inundations." 



The credit applied for was unanimously granted by the Chamber, together 

 with a grant made sua sponte of 5000 francs to be employed in developing 

 roads, to facilitate the exploitation of communal forests, the effect of 

 which it was anticipated might be to raise the average value of 360,000 

 hectares, or 900,000 acres of forests, from five francs to fifty francs per 

 hectare. And in view of the importance of employing forest engineers of 

 superior attaiuments in the works of reboisement in Savoie and in the basin 

 of the Garonne, 50,600 francs, about £2,110, in addition to the credit for 

 the material work was granted. 



If such sums tell of the great expense at which these works are being 

 executed, they tell of the importance attached to the execution of them, 

 and of the perfect confidence which is felt in their immediate eifioiency, 

 and in their ultimately proving remunerative of the outlay. 



I have retained the terms reboisement and gazonnement, because I know of 

 no equivalent English terms by which they can be replaced. Both in 

 India and in America the former term at least has been adopted ; and I 

 believe it will soon be naturalised among the English speaking population 

 on both sides of the Atlantic. 



JOHN C. BROWN. 



Haddington, lOih December, 1879. 



