54 Bi^suM^ OF sueell's study of 



" Behold the work completed ! 



" In recapitulating what has been said it will be seen that it resolves 

 itself into four parts — first, the tracing of zones of enclosure ; second, the 

 covering of these with trees ; third, the extension of vegetation over the 

 banks ; and fourth, the construction of barricades of facines, of brushwood, 

 or of wicker-work. 



" One thing remains yet to be adverted to. I must speak for a moment of 

 the order in which the work should be advanced. This order, far from 

 being arbitrary, is an element of first importance, and a most essential 

 element of success. I have already so often, in the course of this work, 

 brought forward the necessity of attacking the torrents at their source that 

 I believe it to be unnecessary to dwell upon it now. Thus, then, it is in the 

 highest parts that the works should be first undertaken, thence to be 

 extended to the parts of a lower level. Not only should a commencement 

 be made by planting the bcusin de reception before giving attention to the 

 lower zones, but even in this basin the commencement should be made in 

 its highest ramifications. One should go above the last traces of the bed, 

 up to the abrupt slopes furrowed with ravines which the waters form and 

 deform with each storm of rain, — it is there that the first works should be 

 established ; one should afterwards — but only afterwards — carry them 

 lower, but making sure first that the parts left are quite consolidated." 



A chapter is devoted to the discussion of the practicability of carrying 

 out such measures ; and another to the consideration of the legal difficulties 

 in the way of this being done. 



In a resumd of the work proposed, he concludes his recapitulation, saying, 

 — " The definite result of the whole will be the creation of forests ; the 

 whole work may be summed up in one sentence : — Eeclothe with woods the 

 more elevated parts of the mountains. If it be true, that forests exercise an 

 influence on the climate, the effect of this extended mass of new woods will 

 be to render the showers of rain less heavy, the rain-storms more rare, and the 

 whole atmosphere more moist and more showery ; the climate will then, by 

 insensible degrees, be changed at the same time as the surface of the soil ; 

 and thus the two causes of torrents will be destroyed at one and the same 

 time, and a general result will have been obtained while seeking at first 

 only to remedy a particular evil." 



But, he goes on to say, the work of reclothing the heights with wood will 

 not of itself render unnecessary the construction of dams and wears ; and 

 he proceeds to indicate the application of embankments, which would meet 

 the requirements of the case with which he had to do — the prevention of 

 ravages by torrents. 



The question of expense is then discussed ; reasons are adduced to show 

 that the expenses should be borne by the State. And, in a recapitulation and 

 conclusion, the various measures proposed are reviewed and defended against 

 such objections as it was thought possible might be brought against them. 



Such is an analysis of the Study of the torrents of the High Alps, to 

 which may be traced the commencement of the works of rehoisement and 

 gazonnement which are now being carried on, on a gigantic scale, in the Alps, 

 the Cevenues, and the Pyrenees. But it is by no means the only work 

 advocating such measures ; and I proceed to supply information in regard 

 to other works, treating of the same subject, published before and after this 

 work of Surell's. 



