The Earth as Modified by Human ActionMarsh, George P. (George Perkins)
History
The Earth as Modified by Human Action
Marsh, George P. (George Perkins)
Conservation of natural resources; Human geography; Nature -- Effect of human beings on; Physical geography
"The spring of Combefoulat, in the commune of Seleate, was well known as
one of the best in the country; it was remarkably abundant, and
sufficient, in the severest droughts, to supply all the fountains of the
town; but as soon as considerable forests were felled in Combe-de-pre
Martin and in the valley of Combefoulat, the famous spring, which lies
below these woods, has become a mere thread of water, and disappears
altogether in times of drought.
"The spring of Varieux, which formerly supplied the castle of Pruntrut,
lost more than half its water after the clearing of Varieux and
Rougeoles. These woods have been replanted, the young trees are growing
well, and, with the woods, the waters of the spring are increasing.
"The Dog Spring between Pruntrut and Bressancourt has entirely vanished
since the surrounding forest-grounds were brought under cultivation.
"The Wolf Spring, in the commune of Soubey, furnishes a remarkable
example of the influence of the woods upon fountains. A few years ago
this spring did not exist. At the place where it now rises, a small
thread of water was observed after very long rains, but the stream
disappeared with the rain. The spot is in the middle of a very steep
pasture inclining to the south. Eighty years ago, the owner of the land,
perceiving that young firs were shooting up in the upper part of it,
determined to let them grow, and they soon formed a flourishing grove.
As soon as they were well grown, a fine spring appeared in place of the
occasional rill, and furnished abundant water in the longest droughts.
For forty or fifty years this spring was considered the best in the Clos
du Doubs. A few years since, the grove was felled, and the ground turned
again to a pasture. The spring disappeared with the wood, and is now as
dry as it was ninety years ago." [Footnote: Ueber Die Entwaldung Der
Gebirge, pp. 20 et seqq.]
Siemoni gives the following remarkable facts from his own personal
observation:
"In a rocky nook near the crest of a mountain in the Tuscan Apennines,
there flowed a clear, cool, and perennial fountain, uniting three
distinct springs in a single current. The ancient beeches around and
particularly above the springs were felled. On the disappearance of the
wood, the springs ceased to flow, except in a thread of water in rainy
weather, greatly inferior in quality to that of the old fountain. The
beeches were succeeded by firs, and as soon as they had grown
sufficiently to shade the soil, the springs begun again to flow, and
they gradually returned to their former abundance and quality."
[Footnote: Manuale D'arte Forestale. 2me editione, p. 492.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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