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

CHAPTER IV.

THE WATERS.

Land Artificially Won from the Waters--Great Works of Material
Improvement--Draining of Lincolnshire Fens--Incursions of the Sea in the
Netherlands--Origin of Sea-dikes--Gain and Loss of Land in the
Netherlands--Marine Deposits on the Coast of Netherlands--Draining of
Lake of Haarlem--Draining of the Zuiderzee--Geographical Effects
of--Improvements in the Netherlands--Ancient Hydraulic Works--Draining
of Lake Celano by Prince Torlonia--Incidental Consequences of Draining
Lakes--Draining of Marshes--Agricultural Draining--Meteorological
Effects of Draining--Geographical Effects of Draining--Geographical
Effects of Aqueducts and Canals--Antiquity of Irrigation--Irrigation in
Palestine, India, and Egypt--Irrigation in Europe--Meteorological
Effects of Irrigation--Water withdrawn from Rivers for
Irrigation--Injurious Effects of Rice-culture--Salts Deposited by Water
of Irrigation--Subterranean Waters--Artesian Wells--Artificial
Springs--Economizing Precipitation--Inundations in France--Basins of
Reception--Diversion of Rivers--Glacier Lakes--River Embankments--Other