ISTE0DUCT10N> 9 



southern flank of the Piedmontese Alps or the French province of Dauphiny 

 for half-a-dozen of years without witnessing with his own eyes the forma- 

 tion and increase of torrents. I can bear personal testimony to the conver- 

 sion of more than one grassy slope into the bed of a furious torrent by the 

 baring of the hills above of their woods." 



And SureU goes on to say, — " There can be shown here torrents, which 

 have not been in existence for three years, which have destroyed the finest 

 parts of the valleys. Whole villages have been almost carried away by 

 ravines formed in a few hours ; and the greater part of the torrents have 

 not as yet received a name. Often the wild waters, flowing in broad 

 sheets over the surface of the ground, without bed, without ravine, without 

 torrent, have suflSced to soak and ruin whole districts which have been 

 abandoned for ever. 



" One may see also dispersed here and there on the brows of many hiUs 

 (revers), traces of old fields and of old estates, the bounds of which are still 

 marked out by thick dry stone-walls, but which no man has been near for 

 a long time. Such are to be seen on the rising grounds of Agnferes, and on 

 the col of the Noyer. One can with difficulty imagine anything more dis- 

 tressing and more significant than the sight of these ruins ; they have 

 written on the brows of hiUs (revers) of the D6voluy the future destiny 

 of all the French Alps. And here again come into view proofs which do 

 not admit of any doubt in regard to the destructive influence of flocks. 



Some communes, dreading the future, have enclosed some quarters, as the 

 mountain of Chaumette, quartier de Maniboux, quartier de Lierravesse, 

 quartier de Auroux, near Saint Etienne. Immediately vegetation had again 

 gained possession of the soil, the herbage, bushes, and shrubs have spread 

 with wonderful rapidity, and formed what are called blanches in the country. 

 Whole forests have sprung up on the soil of the forests which were destroyed 

 at the Revolution, but which the inhabitants, now inspired with a better 

 feeling, have subjected to a regular course of forest management. Finally, 

 on the same mountain br'ows (revers) enclosed portions assume, by the end of 

 two years, appearances difierent from that of those given up to the sheep. 

 The latter are bare and cut into ravines ; the former are covered with vege- 

 tation, the soil is consohdated, and the ravines, carpeted with tufted plants, 

 look like cicatrices occasioned by wounds, which are under the benignant 

 influence of a topical application. In the two quarters — the exposure, the 

 slopes, the soil are the same ; the mere fact of putting them en reserve has 

 determined the difiorence. What can be objected to such facts ? Are they 

 not conclusive ? Do they not give the clue to the system to be followed 

 to put at last a stop to these calamities always increasing % 



" To resume, we see here always the same effects resulting from the 

 same causes. Let us foUow them a little further and we find them become 

 still more saddening. 



" The country is being depopulated day by day. Euined in their cultiva- 

 tion of the ground the inhabitants emigrate to a great distance from this 

 desolated land, and, contrary to the general custom of mountaineers, many 

 never return. There mey be seen on aU hands cabins deserted or in ruins, 

 and already in some localities there are more fields than labourers. 



" The precarious state of these fields discovirages the population. They 

 abandon the plough and invest all their resources in flocks. But these 

 flocks expedite the ruin of the coimtry, which would be destroyed by them 

 alone, Every year their number diminishes in coiuequeuce of want of 



