144 
3. Planting of willows and other trees, shrubs, grasses, &c. 
4. Chamfering of the banks. 
5. Fencing of banks. 
6. Burning as much as possible of the dead timber and branches to prevent their 
finding their way into the Avatercourses and scouring the banks. There is 
an especial abundance of dead timber after a drought. 
Appendix. Mountain Torrents in Europe. 
I add a statement from one of the best modern works on forestry* in regard to 
flood mitigation in Europe. The mountain torrents are, as a rale, different in 
character from the Hunter River, and some of the methods in vogue in Europe 
would be impracticable here on account of the expense. I repeat my advice " to 
meet the danger at its source." Let us guard against undue erosion by thecreeklets 
and creeks, and the big river will largely take care of itself. I am only referring 
to floods which have their origin in the Upper Hunter. 
Private agency can usually do nothing or little to prevent floods. The action of the State is indis- 
pensable, as the cost of the erection and maintenance of the works necessary to secure this object is quite 
out of proportion to the value of the property on which they must be erected ; and the work of fixing the 
beds of mountain torrents and hillsides in process of denudation must be carried out over a large area. 
The most effective measures depend on the management of the collecting areas of dangerous water-courses, 
the main principle being to meet the danger at its source . . . (the italics are mine. J.H.M.). 
Serious and successful action, however, is being taken in France, Switzerland, and the Tyrol to 
counteract the causes of floods. The chief rules to be followed are : (a) Revetment of torrents and their 
feeders. By this means earth, gravel, and boulders are retained in the mountains. Works of the following 
nature should be designed in accordance with the nature of the locality, the characters of the torrents, the 
area of the collecting ground, and the funds available : 
1. Barricades of trees, with their entire crowns thrown across the torrents. 
2. Wattle fences across the bed of torrents. 
3. Dams made of fascines or masonry, to cause the deposition of coarse material, to be constructed 
across the torrents at suitable distances. 
4. Paving the bed of the torrent. 
5. Wattle-fencing on revetments along the banks of torrents to moderate the cutting action of the 
water. 
Schlich's " Manual of Forestry," Vol. IV, page 501. 
