110, THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 
In a volume entitled Forests and Moisture; or Effects of 
Forests on Humidity of Soil,* T have stated facts which seem 
to show that the past and present distribution of forests 
over the earth has been affected by the distribution 
of moisture; that subsequently the forests affect cou- 
siderably the distribution of the rainfall, both in time 
and space: that the extensive destruction of forests is 
followed by the rains becoming partial in their diffusion, 
falling now here, now there, and leaving extensive stretches 
of country unvisited, and irregular in their occurrence, 
falling often in thunder plumps instead of genial showers, 
and falling only once and again after prolonged intervals, 
instead of being diffused over several successive months in 
the course of the year; that thus have agriculture and 
horticulture in many lands been greatly injured ; and that 
in some of these, and in other lands, enlightened statesmen 
are exerting themselves by the conservation, restoration, 
and extension of forests, to arrest, and, if possible, to avert, 
the calamity. 
In another volume entitled Réboisement in France ; or, 
Records of the Replanting of the Alps, the Cevennes, and the 
Pyrenees with Trees, Herbage, and Bush, with a view to arresting 
and preventing the destructive consequences and effects of Torrents,t 
I have given numerous details of the formation of torrents 
and the occurrence of extensively devastating inundations 
having followed the destruction of forests on mountain 
sides and mountain summits; and of these having ceased 
on the mountains having been replanted with trees or 
temporary substitutes. 
According to the information communicated to me, 
there are extensive districts in Finland in which the 
forests are so extensive and continuous that there is no 
danger apparent of any such consequences following the 
continued practice of Svedjande in these; once and again I 
have stated that in some of these the accidental destruc- 
* Edinburgh : Oliver & Boyd. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. 1877. 
¢ London: Paul Kegan & Co. 1876, 
