INFLUENCE OF THE FOREST ON SPRINGS. 209 
ers. The commune of Labrugui&re liad been for a long time 
famous for its opposition to forest laws. Trespasses and abuses 
of the right of pasturage had converted the wood into an 
immense waste, so that this vast property now scarcely sufficed 
to pay the expense of protecting it, and to furnish the inhab¬ 
itants with a meagre supply of fuel. While the forest was 
thus ruined, and the soil thus bared, the water, after every 
abundant rain, made an eruption into the valley, brought 
down a great quantity of pebbles which still clog the current 
of the Caunan. The violence of the floods was sometimes such 
that they were obliged to stop the machinery for some time. 
During the summer another inconvenience was felt. If the 
dry weather continued a little longer than usual, the delivery 
of water became insignificant. Each fullery could for the 
most part only employ a single set of stampers, and it was not 
unusual to see the work entirely suspended. 
“ From 1840, the municipal authority succeeded in en¬ 
lightening the population as to their true interests. Protected 
by a more watchful supervision, aided by well-managed re¬ 
plantation, the forest has continued to improve to the present 
day. In proportion to the restoration of the forest, the condi¬ 
tion of the manufactories has become less and less precarious, 
and the action of the water is completely modified. For 
example, there are no long, sudden, and violent floods, which 
make it necessary to stop the machinery. There is no increase 
in the delivery until six or eight hours after the beginning of 
the rain ; the floods follow a regular progression till they reach 
their maximum, and decrease in the same manner. Finally, 
the fulleries are no longer forced to suspend work in summer; 
the water is always sufficiently abundant to allow the employ¬ 
ment of two sets of stampers at least, and often even of three. 
“ This example is remarkable in this respect, that, all other 
circumstances having remained the same, the changes in the 
action of the stream can be attributed only to the restoration 
of the forest—changes which may be thus summed up : dimi¬ 
nution of flood water during rains—increase of delivery at other 
seasons.” 
14 
