1 ¥en, 1900, ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 129 
_ Forest Destruction.—The effect of the destruction of forests in mountainous 
Tegions is eloquently described by the eminent French political economist, 
3B ‘nqui, in a memoir read before the A cademy of Moral and Political Science 
of Tnce, in 1843. He says, in referring to the Alps of Southern France— 
Signs of unparalleled destruction are visible in all the mountain zone, and 
the Solitudes of those districts are assuming an indescribable character of 
Sterility and desolation. The gradual destruction of the woods has, in a 
Ousand localities, annihilated at once the springs and the fuel. The abuse of 
i. Hght of pasturage and the felling of the woods have stripped the soil of all 
8 grass and all its trees, and the scorching rays bake it to the consistency of 
Srphyry. When moistened by the rain, as it has neither support nor cohesion, 
tolls down to the valleys, sometimes in floods, resembling black, yellow, or 
teddish lava, sometimes in streams of pebbles, and even huge blocks of stone, 
Which Pour down with a frightful roar, and in their swift course exhibit the 
fos’ convulsive movements. No tongue can give an adequate description of 
a devastations in one of those sudden floods, which resemble in almost none 
hee phenomena the action of ordinary river water. They are aa ae 
them a 2s brooks, but real seas, tumbling down in cataracts and rol ing before 
‘ &m blocks of stone, which are hurled forward by the shock of waves like balls 
vot out by the explosion of gunpowder. A. furious wind precedes the rushing 
ater and announces its approach. Then comes a violent eruption, followed by 
ow of muddy waves, and after a few hours all returns to the dreary silence 
“at periods of rest marks these abodes of desolation. 
Prench Forestrv.—After years of agitation and discussion, the work of 
restoring the woods and of controlling the floods and destructive erosion of the 
‘ents was undertaken by the French Government at enormous cost, but with 
pratifying results, wherever carried out. The improvements consisted (1) of 
str Systematic planting of trees, grass, and underbrush near the source of the 
i ass to prevent the sudden and rapid, collection of rain and melted snow 
eae _(2) The protection of the shores of the streams from undermining 
Nd their beds from erosion, by the erection of small dams of masonry, loose 
i ~<and brush, to diminish the grade and decrease the power of the water, to 
_ "se and widen the bed, and to retain and store detritus. Many of these struc- 
s°S were made of green branches that were induced to take root and grow. 
© terracing of the mountain slopes in a way to retard the run off and guide 
a Water into channels of light grade, where it could be conducted to the main 
reams without washing the soil. On one small watershed of less than 1,000 
Tes, the Government expended 125,000 dollars; but the - benefits resulting 
Mediately after completion were estimated at more than double that sum. 
Other 
have q European Forestry Work.—Vhe Austrian and Swiss Governments 
Orion, sue 2 great deal of this work to restore the mountain watersheds to their 
et condition before the forests were destroyed, and great numbers of 
of Poy dams haye been erected, to an extreme height in one case, in the gorge 
“rina, Austrian Tyrol, of 115 feet. These are built exclusively for 
pining débris and curbing the power of the torrents. The usual height of 
othe Structures, however, is about 25 feet, and they are placed as near to each 
* 8 the grade of the torrent necessitates. Their effect is incidentally to store 
conc} 28 Well as gravel, for the voids in gravel reservoirs of that kind retain a 
erable volume of water, which is given off gradually to the stream. Such 
hs “in be done to advantage on every mountain stream in California, and I 
of ¢h, no doubt that similar works will ultimately be undertaken in various parts 
Uniteg wt West as a necessity, although it will require much agitation and 
for ele opinion to secure appropriations from the general Government 
: Such construction. The most important work in hand, however, is to 
‘the measures for preventing the further destruction of forest, and avoid 
Stre, Necessity for extensive correction of erosion in our mountain slopes and 
SI ieee costs less than the subsequent correction, and is more easily 
ed, , 
*cComplig 
