Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-24

tne superhcial strata, but, moreover, from the
moro or less deep strata into which the roots
penetrate, which furnish little or no water to
herbaceous vegetation. These strata are oft
en- ted by subterranean currents coming often.
times from great distance. Further, this
water which existed in the deeper strata be.
ing effused into the atmosphere, afterwards
falls as dew, fog or rain aud thus augments
the quantity Of water which the surface Of
the soil receives even at remote distances.
One Of the most important considerations,
and hence requiring serious attention, is the
effect Of dsboscatiou on the sources aud
quantities Of live water which irrigate
country. Springs are owing in general, to
The infltration Of rain water in pervious
formation through which the water sinks un.
til il meets with an impervious stratum.
Over this it flows in an inclined position and
eventually rises in springs aud fountains.
The water Of wells has the same origin, in
measure. Forests contribute to the forma-
tion OF springs, not only by reason of the
humidity which they produce and the obsta-
cles which they oppose to the evaporation of
the water which falls on the surface, but fur.
ther, because Of the roots of the trees which
by dividing the soil render ii more pervious
and thus facilitate infltration. Thus in a
hilly or mountainous country, before the for
ests are cleared away, the rains are conveyed
by percolation to the lower grounds, where
they serve to keep up an equable supply of
water in the springs and streams throughout
the year, but after the forests have disap-
peared they flow of rapidly, often forming
dangerous floods.
Now allow me to adduce few of the many
facts that might be cited which tend to prove
that the disboscation of the forests Of
country diminish the supply of water
The ancient historian Shabo, informs us
that it was necessary to take great precau.
tions by means of trenches and canals to pre-
vent the country of Babyloria from being
overHowed, owing to the melting of large
quantities of snow on the mountains whence
the Euphrates takes its rise. This state of
things is said TO exist no longer 4 traveller
who passed through Babylonia some years
SINCE says that the volume of water conveyed
by the Euphrates is much less than in past
ages; that inundatious no longer occur, and
the marshes are exhausted by the great heats
OF summer. This decrease of water he salts
fled himself was attributable to the clearing
away of the forests on the mountains of Ar
menia. The noted philosopher De Saussurc,
observed great diminution of water in the
lakes Of Switzerland, as n consequence Of the
clearing away Of the forests. NJ. Boussin.
gaut cites the lake Of Nalcnciana, Venezuela,
as an example of the diminution Of water
by the disboscation of the forests This lake
receives the DRAWINGS Of the valley of
Avagua, and vas no outlet. Oviedo, the
historian of Venezuela 10 the sixteenth CEN
tury, says that the city.ot Neuva Valencia
was founded in 1854, at the distance of half
league from this lake. When Humboldt
was there in 1900, it had been undergoing
a gradual dessication for number of years,
and il was then distant l-2 miles from the
city, proof Of the retreat Of the waters.
The celebrated traveller just named, believed
that the dimnution Of the waters was direct
ly attributable to the clearing away of nu-
merous forests. In 1922, VI. Boussngault,
learned of the inhabitants that the waters of
the lake had exhibited very sensible cleva.
tion, as lands which were once cultivated
were then submerged. This is accounted for
by the fact that during the previous twenty.
two years the couutry about this lake had
been the theatre of many bloody contests
during the war Of independence. The lands
remaining untitled owing to this state of af.
fairs, and the forest, which grows with prodig-
ous rapidity under the tropics, had eventually
occupied greater part of the country. We
see here the influence of woods on the guam
tity OF water which flows or settles in
country, since lakes which had been exhaust
ed by the removal of forests were again re-
penished by their restoration. Another
illustration of the point in question has been
observed at Orleans, in France. There was
near the city at the time of the siege in 1923,
a stream considerable enough to turn mills,
aud which contributed in no small degree in
its defence by furnishing water to the nhabi-
tants. 1t has now entirely disappeared,
Now on that side Of Orleans were great for
ests which have since been cleared away.
In consequence of these clearings, the wells
Of the city have continued to yield less and
less water, so that the municipal authorities
have been obliged to incur a great expense
to bring potable water from neighboring
river, The sterility of some parts of Spain
and Persia, and the degradation Of the in.
habtants arising there.rom owing to the
clearing away of the forests, is too we'll known
to be descanted upon here. Nor is it ncces-
sary to go to the old world, and to foreign
countries to find proofs of the point being
discussed, for the deIoterious effects Of clear
ing away the forests may be easily noted in
the new world and our own country
The old residents in the older portions of
the country affirm that drOughts are more
severe at present than formerly, and in Por-
tions Of the country where trees have been
planted to any extent the supply of rain is
more copious aud uniform than il once was.
Nowhere is this effect seen more plainly
than on the great plains beyond the Missouri.
A few wears ago, before they were much set