p. 91

88

April 2d, 1866-A heavy rain fell upon frozen ground-with snow in some places-the consequence was a great flood, breaking the canal dam-as well as almost all others, carrying away bridges &c-

Forests equalize the flow of water in springs and rivers. They do not increase the quantity of rain.
When cut away floods in rivers are increased, and their waters are diminished in summer; but the total annual discharge is not supposed to be materially affected.

Plants are capable of absorbing from the soil a quantity of water greater than the annual rain fall!-A very large proportion of the water absorbed by the soil is returned to the atmosphere through the roots & leaves of plants.

The abrasion of the soil is increased by the floods caused by removing the forests.

Apl. 19. 1867. The Eastern part of the Dam broke away!