THE WOODS.
The Habitable Earth Originally Wooded--General Meteorological Influence
of the Forest--Electrical Action of Trees--Chemical Influence of
Woods--Trees as Protection against Malaria--Trees as Shelter to Ground
to the Leeward--Influence of the Forest as Inorganic on
Temperature--Thermometrical Action of Trees as Organic--Total Influence
of the Forest on Temperature--Influence of Forests as Inorganic on
Humidity of Air and Earth--Influence as Organic--Balance of Conflicting
Influences--Influence of Woods on Precipitation--Total Climatic Action
of the Forest--Influence of the Forest on Humidity of Soil--The Forest
in Winter--Summer Rain, Importance of--Influence of the Forest on the
Flow of Springs--Influence of the Forest on Inundations and
Torrents--Destructive Action of Torrents--Floods of the
Ardeche--Excavation by Torrents--Extinction of Torrents--Crushing Force
of Torrents--Transporting Power of Water--The Po and its
Deposits--Mountain Slides--Forest as Protection against
Avalanches--Minor Uses of the Forest--Small Forest Plants and Vitality
of Seeds--Locusts do not Breed in Forests--General Functions of
Forest--General Consequences of Destruction of--Due Proportion of
Woodland--Proportion of Woodland in European Countries--Forests of Great
Britain--Forests of France--Forests of Italy--Forests of
Germany--Forests of United States--American Forest Trees--European and
American Forest Trees Compared--The Forest does not furnish Food for
Man--First Removal of the Forest--Principal Causes of Destruction of
Forest--Destruction and Protection of Forests by Governments--Royal
Forests and Game-laws--Effects of the French Revolution--Increased
Demand for Lumber--Effects of Burning Forest--Floating of
Timber--Restoration of the Forest--Economy of the Forest--Forest
Legislation--Plantation of Forests In America--Financial Results of
Forest Plantations--Instability of American Life