Two Distinctive Phases of 
French Forestry 
Practical Accomplishments in Reboisement and Reclamation 
France has to her credit in forestry two 
distinctive accomplishments. In them she 
excels all other nations. They are the con- 
trol of torrential streams in the high moun- 
tain districts, and the transformation of 
great areas of economically useless sand 
land into forests of high productive valne. 
Concerning both of these types of forest work 
there is much of general interest. First, be- 
cause in the solution of the problems that 
have been attacked certain principles have 
been made clear which are applicable every- 
where. Second, because the methods that 
have been worked out, in both cases, have 
become the standard for similar work the 
world over. And third, because, from the 
standpoint of forest policy, many of the de- 
cisions that have been made can well serve 
SWITZERLAND, SHOW- 
PLACE ON 
GRINDELWALD, 
ING BOULDER HELD IN 
REPLANTED SLOPE BY 
MASONRY WALL 
as guides, if not as precedents, to other 
countries. 
To see torrent contrel work one must visit 
the High Alps or the Pyrenees. The recla- 
mation of the sand wastes is along the coast 
of southwestern France, near Bordeaux. This 
letter is written as one outcome of visits 
made to typical areas, both in the Alps and 
along the coast, which stand as examples of 
work that has been satisfactorily accom- 
plished. Without going far into detail it 
aims to outline the salient points of these pro- 
jects. A few comments are added regarding 
the bearing which the French forest policy 
in these matters may have on the problem 
of how to make the best use of’ certain waste 
lands in our own country. 
VALLEY OF LAUTERBRUNNEN, SWITZER- 
ERLAND, SHOWING RETAINING WALES 
AND WICKER BARRAGES. REPLANT- 
ING IS GOING ON 
(53) 
