250 tEGISLATION ON TOEBENTB. 



to point out the effects which have been produced by these works. A great 

 number of small torrents have been extinguished ; and villages, cultivated 

 fields, and highways, which were severely threatened, have now been placed 

 beyond risk of danger. 



" Amongst places effectually protected may be named Sainte-Marie, a 

 dependent village of the commune of Vars, in the High Alps, which a 

 previous torrent had repeatedly invaded, and which was in imminent 

 danger of immediate destruction ; that of Chorges, in the same department, 

 which is now traversed by a stream which has become inoffensive ; the 

 Bourg-d'Oisans, in the Isfere, the existence of which was imperilled at every 

 storm of rain by the muds brought down by the torrent of Saint-Antoine, 

 the bringing down of which the reboisement may be said to have entirely 

 suppressed ; and a part of the town of Mende itself, against which the 

 waters of a torrent, now extinguished throughout the whole of its course, 

 were directing their flow. 



" The great torrents require more time, and more especially more money 

 to be spent upon them ; nevertheless, the effect of the works is already 

 making itself to be felt on many among them, the regime of which has been 

 perceptibly improved ; and there are some, even of them, which may be 

 looked upon as extinguished. Amongst others may be mentioned that of 

 Sainte-Marthe, in the High Alps, which was the terror of the valley of 

 Embrun, and which is now so inoffensive that the inhabitants have in 

 contemplation to bring again under culture all the lands previously 

 abandoned on account of the ravages committed hj the waters. 



"In regard to the works of reboisement a,nd. ffazonnement, strictly so-called, 

 the results established, obtained on the occurrence of the inundations of 

 1866, admit no longer of any doubt being entertained in regard to the 

 influence which they exercise on the regime of the waters. 



" The test which these works have just sustained warrant the conclusion 

 that the period of studies and experiments always needed at the commence- 

 ment of such complicated operations, may be considered as having now 

 come to an end. The forest agents are now satisfied in regard to the best 

 method of procedure, and in regard to the most appropriate kinds of trees 

 to employ. 



" I shall not attempt to describe the methods which vary, it may be said, 

 ad infinitum, with the regions, the lands, the exposure, the altitude, &c. ; 

 but it may be useful to make known the kinds of trees which have given 

 satisfaction in the different mountain countries of France, and the degree 

 of success which has followed sowings and has followed planting." 



There is given a report relative to the different kinds of trees employed, 

 and a tabulated statement of the degree of success which has followed all 

 the operations of planting, of sowing, and of gazonneinent, excepting on 

 reboisement factdtatifs of less extent than 50 hectares; from the commence- 

 ment of these till 1866 inclusive, the success ranges from 1 per cent, to 

 100 per cent. Tlie most frequently recurring figures are 60, 70, 75, 80, 

 85, and 98, and 100 per cent, or complete success is frequently reported. 



A report of the seeds and plants employed in the works of reboisement 

 and gazonnement follows, stating kinds, quantities, and prices, and the 

 expense of maintaining skherics, or places for drying seeds, where these had 

 been erected. 



This is followed by reports of grounds obtained by expropriation and 

 otherwise, of subventions voted by the General Councils of thirty-six 



