Evils Following the Destruction of Forests 129 



better than the forests. They help to equalize the flow 

 of the streams so that the floods are not so high in the spring 

 nor the water so low in the summer as they would be if there 

 were no forests. 



One of the first questions asked by a man who is thinking 

 of bujdng a farm is about the water supply. He wants to 

 know whether there are wells, springs, or living streams on 

 the place. Almost everything depends upon the water 

 supply. If there is an abundance, the farmer is likely to 

 be prosperous. When he is prosperous all the rest of us 

 are prosperous, no matter what our business is. 



Are you not ready now to say that the Swiss are right in 

 not permitting tree cutting upon any land except under the 

 supervision of a forester? The careless removal of the 

 forests from the mountain slopes may affect the farmer in 

 the valley fifty miles away. Do you not think that this 

 farmer is very much interested in the management of the 

 forest, although he does not own a foot of it? 



Trouble always follows the destruction of the forests on 

 the headwaters of the streams. 



