^UBLIC OPIXION ON EEBOISEMENT. 311 



and stones, and that the potets dug on the flanks of precipitous mountains 

 had also retained in like manner a considerable proportion of materials, 

 acting individually as a multitude of small barrages." 



Besides these and similar operations carried on extensively in the depart- 

 ments named, similar operations have been carried on in different localities in 

 the region of the Vosges and of Mount Jura ; but enough, if not more than 

 enough, has been brought forward to enable the student of Hydrology— or 

 the student of Forest-Science — to compare the present with the past. 



Chap. VI. — Local Feeling and Public Opinion in Regard 

 TO Reboisement. 



Again and again in the preceding pages have indications of a strong local 

 feeling against the prosecution of the enterprise appeared, with indications 

 of these having subsided, and in some caseS; — and these not few — ^given 

 place to feelings of satisfaction and of a disposition to help forward the 

 work. This appears to have been the case everywhere in so far as those 

 who were more immediately affected by the operations — landed proprietors, 

 and the communal population — have made themselves heard. 



It may be attributed, perhaps, in part to prejudice, but apart from 

 this, (1) to the operations interfering with long-accustomed usages, and even 

 with the livelihood of many who saw and knew and felt their immediate 

 effects, but did not see, and could not foresee, the benefits which were to 

 follow ; (2) to the sincere desire of the Government to avoid all private 

 wrong in seeking to secure a public good, and their making this manifest in 

 their legislation in regard to the matter; (3) to the Administration and 

 their agents endeavouring, and that successfully, to act with the meekness 

 of wisdom, fixing not their attention on the passionate expression of oppo- 

 sition, but endeavouring to find out the irritating grievance, and acting in a 

 conciliating spirit, and taking proper measures to get this redressed ; and 

 (4) to the adaptation of the means employed to effect the end desired. 



I consider it of some importance that the successive phases of local feel- 

 ing and of public opinion in the localities in which these operations were 

 carried on should come under the attention of legislators, and of practical 

 men, who may be led to adopt similar works of reboisement and gazonnement, 

 or modifications of them required by local circumstances, as means of 

 counteracting similar evils elsewhere. Opposition in any such case may 

 be anticipated, and it may be that the opposition will not be without good 

 cause ; but if the means be equally adapted to accomplish the end designed, 

 and that end equally desirable, if the same meekness and forbearance be 

 maintained by those entrusted with the direction and prosecution of the 

 enterprise, and the same enlightened legislation characterise the enactments 

 upon which the enterprise is based and by which it is regulated, the same 

 or a similar issue of the opposition may be anticipated. If any of these be 

 lacking it may be otherwise ; and I know not which of them is of most 

 importance. My aim and desire has been limited to showing what has bepn 

 done in France, and in what circumstances and with what results this was 

 done, and to supply, in so far as this can thus be done, information which 

 may be utilised by those who may be called upon, or may feel themselves 

 otherwise moved, to endeavour to counteract similar evils now or at any 

 time hereafter. 



