310 DEVASTATIONS AND RESTORATIONS. 



had not fallen a single penetrating shower in the territory of Cannes and 

 over half of Citou from the month of April to this time (20th November). 

 A considerable dessication was the result, but as each potet sown has still 

 living plants there is no occasion to renew the greater part of these sowings. 

 A dominal lot in Caunes, however, replanted in 1865 with green oak, hais 

 been burned up to the roots by the drought, on from 20 to 22 hectares. 

 In deducting these from the 426 hectares in all, it may be considered that 

 there has succeeded perfectly and is now in good condition about 400 

 hectares, for there is little probability that they will have to withstand now 

 droughts like that of this year, which they have stood pretty well. Certain 

 sowings suffered in 1866 from very violent storms of hail, but they have 

 been completely restored. 



" Since 1868 this p6rimfetre has had a nursery of which 50 ares only have- 

 at this time been sown. This will suffice for the wants of the district, as 

 sowings are almost always the only mode practicable in reboisement here. 

 " The expenses have been pretty high, on account of the nature of the 

 soil, which is very stony. 'Every potet had moreover to be wrought to a con- 

 siderable depth, that the roots of the young plants might reach as soon as 

 possible a depth such as would protect them from drought. 



" This method of preparing the soil is indispensable with this view ; un- 

 fortunately it contributes to the striping of the plants at the roots in hard 

 frosts. . To combat as much as possible this scourge the root of the young 

 plant is surrounded with stones of a greater or less size. 



" The total expense incurred to the 31st December 1868, inclusive of the 

 value of all that has been supplied, amounts to 4.3,264 fr. 28 ct., which has 

 arisen thus— including the priming and preparation of layers in reboise- 

 ment : — 



Works oi reboisement, ... ... ... Fr. 41,937 13 



Construction of fearj-a^res, ... ... ... 418 45 



„ of paths, 735 70 



„ of walls, ... ... ... 123 



Fr. 43,264 28 



" These sums may be divided according to the ownership of the property 

 on which they have been spent, thus : — 



" The whole of the works executed on dominal 



lands have cost - - Fr. 25,825 



" Works on communal lands executed at the ex- 

 pense of the State, - 14,089 03 



" Amount of subvention of all kinds granted to the 



Commune of Lespinassikes, 3,157 60 



" Subventions granted to private proprietors, 39 75 



" Reboisement effected on private property at the 



cost of the State, - 155 



" Total as above, - Fr. 43,264 28 



" The re-planting effected in the p6rimfetre of I'Argent-Double have not yet 

 been able to exercise a considerable iuflueuoe on the regime of this affluent 

 of the Aude, for they do not occupy more than a seventh part of the area. 

 Nevertheless it has been ascertained, after the storms of rain which came 

 on in 1865 and 1866, that the barraqes had retained great quantities of earth 



