American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-10-02
Forests and Rainfall.

DURING the early stages of the discus
sion regarding the influence of forests
upon the annual rainfall we were induced
by what was deemed most significant testi-
mony to take the ground that as yet there
was not sufficient evidence at hand to
justify the popular opinion that the r.
moval of forests resulted in the diminuton
of the annual rainfall. On the othernand
we have the testimony of Prof. Dre'er ana
the meteorological records to ps9ve that
the average rainfall over the gnitea states
taken year for year dung the last nity
years, has neither irereaseu nor dlmln-
ished, though the r,iiloval OF TIMBER has
been rapid and constant. Aithough we
were inclined 20 consider this opinion re-
oarding thu annual rainfall as sustained
by abunddnt evidence we were also ready
to adpf that the clearing of forests did re-
sultm an increase in the violence and
pdmber of our local freshets. This effect
was attributed to the fact that forests serve
to check the too rapid melting of the
snow, while they also serve to hold the
surface-water and prevent Its too
rapid flow down the hill-sides to
the streams below. Then, again, the ir-
Irregularities of surface, caused by the ele-
walton around the base of each tree-trunk,
and the intervening depressions thus
caused, would seem to act as so many
basins in which the falling water might
collect, and from which it must pass either
by absorption or evaporation. The leaves
also present an extended surface, upon
which certain amount of water is always
retained, and from which it is again re-
turned to the atmosphere by evaporation.
We are thus prompted to review our re1-
sons for believing that the removal of
forests increases the liability to freshets
and consequent foundations, in view of
tho fact that racpnt French writer NJ
Wales, in a work entitled Etudes sur les
Inondations," takes opposite ground. The
main argument advanced in support of
his opinion that forests do not dimin
ish the violence of foundations is
that over wooded districts "mosses
and plants abound; beds of dry leaves
accumulate yearly, and fill up all
the interstices; the roots of the trees
themselves fill up the assures in the
claims that in the cleared region the
ground is kept plowed and clear of
weeds, while the countless numbers of
burrows and bitches give the soil more
time and opportunity to absorb the water.
On reviewing this argument it is evident
that the writer, in support of his theory,
is led into certain evident inconsistencies.
For instance, it is claimed as against the
forests that the roots of the trees fill up the
" assures IN the rOckS; ana yet 1mme
diately afterward and in the same con-
nection we are informed that in the
cleared regions the ground is kept
ploaced, although the blowing and furrow-
ing of rocky slopes is rare occurrence.
1t is true that the vineyard districts along
the Rhine are often the most barren
of hill-sides, and yet they are hard
Iy such as the term rocky fissures''
would indicate. Granting, however, that
in exceptional cases the effect may be
as stated, it is evident that to us in
America the conditions may be altered.
1t is demonstrate fact that the removal
of forest in many of our wooded districts
is not followed by the subsequent cultiva-
ton of the land, and hence the leaf-cov-
cred surface, now hardened by the direct
action of the suns rays, soon becomes an
impenetrable table from which the water
runs without impediment to the streams
below. We would not have given to the
discussion of this question so extended a
space were it not that the subject is one
of general interest, the recent floods in
Europe having served to direct public at
tention to it, and already active measures
are being taken to prevent the indiscrim-
mate destruction of timber, and in cases
of cleared lands the owners are advised to
begin a regular system of ree-planting.
While those who are now suffering from
these causes are engaged in devising a
we of this country would do well
to adopt the wiser course and by "pre-
vention' avoid the need of "cure"-
xdDDlet0nS' Journal