Trees as Organisms: Specific Temperature—Total Influence of the Forest on Temperature.
Influence of Forests on the Humidity of the Air and the Earth: a, as Inorganic Matter; b, as Organic—Wood Mosses and Fungi—Flow of Sap—Absorption and Exhalation of Moisture by Trees—Balance of Conflicting Influences—Influence of the Forest on Temperature and Precipitation—Influence of the Forest on the Humidity of the Soil—Its Influence on the Flow of Springs—General Consequences of the Destruction of the Woods—Literature and Condition of the Forest in different Countries—The Influence of the Forest on Inundations—Destructive Action of Torrents—The Po and its Deposits—Mountain Slides—Protection against the Fall of Rocks and Avalanches by Trees—Principal Causes of the Destruction of the Forest—American Forest Trees—Special Causes of the Destruction of European Woods—Royal Forests and Game Laws—Small Forest Plants, Vitality of Seeds—Utility of the Forest—The Forests of Europe—Forests of the United States and Canada—The Economy of the Forest—European and American Trees Compared—Sylviculture—Instability of American Life, [128]
THE WATERS.
Land artificially won from the Waters: a, Exclusion of the Sea by Diking; b, Draining of Lakes and Marshes; c, Geographical Influence of such Operations—Lowering of Lakes—Mountain Lakes—Climatic Effects of Draining Lakes and Marshes.
Geographical and Climatic Effects of Aqueducts, Reservoirs, and Canals—Surface and Underdraining, and their Climatic and Geographical Effects—Irrigation and its Climatic and Geographical Effects.
Inundations and Torrents: a, River Embankments; b, Floods of the Ardèche; c, Crushing Force of Torrents; d, Inundations of 1856 in France; e, Remedies against Inundations—Consequences if the Nile had been confined by Lateral Dikes.
Improvements in the Val di Chiana—Improvements in the Tuscan Maremme—Obstruction of River Mouths—Subterranean Waters—Artesian Wells—Artificial Springs—Economizing Precipitation, [330]