INUNDATIONS IN FEANOB. 351 



the villages 100,000 persons are supposed to be destitute. The crops over 

 hundreds of square miles are destroyed, and in many places the very ground 

 has been swept away. It is calculated that the actual loss in cash reaches 

 four millions sterling, and that years must elapse before the suflfering dis- 

 tricts can again resume their old appearance. According to another 

 estimate, the loss caused by the floods in the south of France will amount 

 to 300,000,000 francs, and it is estimated that 3000 persons have lost their 

 lives." It was reported that by the Government the loss was estimated at 

 three millions sterling. And subsequent reports have shown that it was 

 somewhat in excess of this amount. 



Before this volume can come into the hands of many exposed to the 

 devastating effect of torrential floods, it may be known what the Forest 

 Administration of France will do in such circumstances. And, in anticipa^ 

 tion of this, I would submit for the consideration of all interested in the 

 matter the expediency of giving careful consideration to the report expected, 

 and to the practicability and expediency of adopting similar measures. 



It may seem to be impracticable to do so ; but what is impracticable for 

 one man to do may be quite practicable for another to accomplish ; and if 

 the thing be possible the impracticability may be only in appearance, 

 Buissonement may be practicable where boisement is not, and gazonnement 

 where buissonement is not. I have been told of mountain crests of granite 

 upon which neither herbage, nor bush, nor tree can be grown, as if that 

 were a condition of things in which the measures adopted in France must 

 be inapplicable ; but the details given show that it is not the mountain 

 crest, but a lower-lying zone to which reboisement is applied ; and that a 

 zone of forest extinguishes torrents formed above. I only know of one 

 form of impracticability before which I am silenced, the impracticability of 

 finding the money requisite for the execution of operations so extensive as 

 might be requisite to meet and counteract the evil in some given country 

 or locality. Where this is allpged I am silenced, but I am not convinced. 

 The only impracticability I know is that of convincing communities that 

 the outlay would be remunerative. 



It does not, however, comport with my purpose to argue out this point. 

 My purpose was and is simply to report what has been done, what have been 

 the results. But I may, without departure from this, state that if the expense 

 of carrying out such operations be great, so also are the losses occasioned 

 by torrential floods such as they are employed to remedy. And the conserva- 

 tion and extension of forests, coppice woods, shrubbery, and herbage may 

 bring accessory benefits, increasing the comforts and amenities of life, 

 having a pecuniary value which might be reckoned an important offset 

 against the expense of such operations. 



THE END. 



