REVIEWS. 
189 
period, not only in this country "but throughout the world where geological 
research is cultivated. When it is considered the vast range of literature 
that had to be consulted, not always easily accessible, and in different 
languages, geologists cannot but feel grateful to Mr. Whitaker and his well- 
supported co-editors for the labour and energy they have bestowed in thus 
making as useful and complete as possible the first volume of the 11 Geo- 
logical Record.” The work, with the addenda, extends to nearly 400 pages, 
and is accompanied by a copious index. The subjects are classified under 
■different heads — Descriptive, Statigraphical, Physical, Economical Geology, 
Petrology, Mineralogy, and Palaeontology ; and the latter (which might 
have been further divided) under Yertebrata, Invertebrata, and Plants. 
Under each heading the authors’ names are arranged alphabetically, followed 
by the title of their works, and generally by a concise description of the 
contents. The maps are in the alphabetical order of places, so that the 
whole forms an easy and useful volume of reference. 
ON RE-FORESTING IN FRANCE* 
T HE severe inundations and the torrential floods which have frequently 
occurred in the South of France and other districts of Europe, causing 
extensive destruction of life and property, have drawn considerable attention 
to the subject, not only recently but for many years past, and have been the 
object of legislative measures by the Government of the former country. It 
is an inquiry of much importance in a scientific and economical point of 
view, both as regards the causes of their origin and the means to be adopted 
for preventing or modifying the same. 
That the entire destruction of forests is one of the primary causes of 
torrents there can be little doubt ; but besides the loss of the woods there is 
also the action of the torrents, in denuding the vegetable soil, in covering up 
the lower grounds with deposits which alter their nature, in filling up and 
•diverting watercourses, and other injurious effects. To obviate these effects 
many suggestions have been advanced by various writers, especially the 
work of Surell, in 1841, u Etude sur les torrents des Hautes-Alpes,” and to 
which may be traced the commencement of the works of reboisement and 
gazonnement which are now being carried on in the Alps, the Gevennes, and 
the Pyrenees, by the re-clothing the mountain-sides and brows with trees, 
herbage, and bush. That the remedial measures may be expensive, and the 
present outlay large, so also must be losses caused by these destructive floods, 
but the ultimate gains must be great, for it cannot be doubted that reboise- 
ment will be an invaluable advantage to those districts subject to torrential 
floods. Dr. Brown has supplied in this work much practical and useful 
information compiled from the numerous authorities who have treated of 
* 11 Reboisement in France ; or Records of the Re-planting of the Alps, 
Cevennes, and the Pyrenees with Trees, Herbage, and Bush.” Compiled by 
J. C. Brown, LL.D. London, 1876. 
