514 DISCUSSION: FORESTS, RESERVOIRS, AND STREAM FLOW 
Mr. Chitten- run off the surface than goes into the ground; under other condi- 
* tions the reverse will be true; and under still others it will all go 
up into the air. 
Mr. Willis should take this sentence and go out into the woods in 
a long, flood-producing rain, and see what will become of it; and then 
go into the forest in the height of a severe drought and see how it 
will apply to a chance shower that may come along. 
The writer will not consider Mr. Willis’ remarks regarding the 
action of forests upon snow-melting further than to cite his real con- 
clusion, which coincides exactly with that of the text: 
“Later in the season, the forested parts of such regions sometimes 
océasion severe floods in consequence of a large body of snow lingering 
until the warm winds strike it. This effect is undoubtedly unfortunate, 
but the question may well be asked whether it were better to have the 
June flood on top of that of April, rather than divided, as they are 
likely to be in consequence of the presence of the forest.” 
Concerning this last point, the writer has indicated in the curves 
of Fig. 1 how much he thinks absence of the forests would advance the 
crest of the flood. It would probably never amount to more than two 
or three weeks. There would be no danger of its coming on top of the 
April rise. 
Messrs. Willis and Pinchot both raise the point that second-growth 
timber, filled, as it generally is, with underbrush of various sorts, is 
not as effective upon water storage as the virgin forest bed. While 
the writer does not wish to obtrude his opinions against such eminent 
authority, he can only say that, from quite extensive observations in 
a direct practical way, he believes the opposite to be the truth, and he 
can see no reason, even theoretically, why his view is not correct. Let 
any one go out into a genuine tract of second-growth timber, compare 
the tufted ground with that of the forest, observe the effect of showers, 
and he will find very little to support the above theory. In regard to 
erosion, there is no question whatever but that the soil under such 
growths is as well protected, and often better than under the virgin 
forest. 
The following, quotation is given from Mr. Willis’ reference to the 
investigation of Professor Glenn, of Nashville, simply to fix the atten- 
tion of engineers upon the character of the evidence being introduced 
in this discussion: 
“Forty-six creeks and small rivers, the water-sheds of which may 
be described as ‘timbered rather than cleared, are known, according to 
observation and local repute, to rise gradually in times of flood, to 
continue high for several days, and to subside slowly. They carry 
but little sediment, and they maintain a good volume of water during 
dry seasons. 
“Thirty-eight creeks and small rivers in the same water-sheds, 
having slopes which may be described as cleared rather than tim- 
