The Earth as Modified by Human Action | Page 6

1788, 1789, procedee d'une introduction par Lavergne. Paris, 1860. 2 vols. 12mo.
----Voyages en Italie et en Espagne, pendant les annees 1787, 1789. Paris, 1860. 1 vol. 12mo.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY
Natural Advantages of the Territory of the Roman Empire--Physical Decay of that Territory--Causes of the Decay--Reaction of Man on Nature--Observation of Nature--Uncertainty of Our Historical Knowledge of Ancient Climates--Uncertainty of Modern Meteorology--Stability of Nature--Formation of Bogs--Natural Conditions Favorable to Geographical Change--Destructiveness of Man--Human and Brute Action Compared--Limits of Human Power--Importance of Physical Conservation and Restoration--Uncertainty as to Effects of Human Action
CHAPTER II.
TRANSFER, MODIFICATION, AND EXTIRPATION OF VEGETABLE AND OF ANIMAL SPECIES.
Modern Geography takes Account of Organic Life--Geographical Importance of Plants--Origin of Domestic Vegetables--Transfer of Vegetable Life--Objects of Modern Commerce--Foreign Plants, how Introduced--Vegetable Power of Accommodation--Agricultural Products of the United States--Useful American Plants Grown in Europe--Extirpation of Vegetables--Animal Life as a Geological and Geographical Agency--Origin and Transfer of Domestic Quadrupeds--Extirpation of Wild Quadrupeds--Large Marine Animals Relatively Unimportant in Geography--Introduction and Breeding of Fish--Destruction of Fish--Geographical Importance of Birds--Introduction of Birds--Destruction of Birds--Utility and Destruction of Reptiles--Utility of Insects and Worms--Injury to the Forest by Insects--Introduction of Insects--Destruction of Insects--Minute Organisms
CHAPTER III.
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
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 Remedies against Inundations--Dikes of the Nile--Deposits of Tuscan Rivers--Improvements in Tuscan Maremma--Improvements in Val di Chiana--Coast of the Netherlands
CHAPTER V.
THE SANDS.
Origin of Sand--Sand now Carried to the Sea--Beach Sands of Northern Africa--Sands of Egypt--Sand Dunes and Sand Plains--Coast Dunes--Sand Banks--Character of Dune Sand--Interior Structure of Dunes--Geological Importance of Dunes--Dunes on American Coasts--Dunes of Western Europe--Age, Character, and Permanence of Dunes--Dunes as a Barrier against the Sea--Encroachments of the Sea--Liimfjord--Coasts of Schleswig-Holstein, Netherlands, and France--Movement of Dunes--Control of Dunes by Man--Inland Dunes--Inland Sand Plains
CHAPTER VI.
GREAT PROJECTS OF PHYSICAL CHANGE ACCOMPLISHED OR PROPOSED BY MAN.
Cutting of Isthmuses--Canal of Suez--Maritime Canals in Greece--Canals to Dead Sea--Canals to Libyan Desert--Maritime Canals in Europe--Cape Cod Canal--Changes in Caspian--Diversion of the Nile--Diversion of the Rhine--Improvements in North American Hydrography--Soil below Rock--Covering Rock with Earth--Desert Valleys--Effects of Mining--Duponchel's Plans of Improvement--Action of Man on the Weather--Resistance to Great Natural Forces--Incidental Effects of Human Action--Nothing Small In Nature

THE EARTH AS MODIFIED BY HUMAN ACTION.
CHAPTER 1.
INTRODUCTORY.
Natural Advantages of the Territory of the Roman Empire.--Physical Decay of that Territory.--Causes of the Decay.--Reaction of Man on Nature.-- Observation of Nature.--Uncertainty of Our Historical Knowledge of Ancient Climates.--Uncertainty of Modern Meteorology.--Stability of Nature.--Formation of Bogs--Natural Conditions Favorable to Geographical Change.--Destructiveness of Man--Human and Brute Action Compared.--Limits of Human Power.--Importance of Physical Conservation and Restoration--Uncertainty as to Effects of Human Action.
Natural Advantages of the Territory of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire, at the period of its greatest expansion, comprised the regions of the earth most distinguished by a happy combination of physical conditions. The provinces bordering on the principal and the secondary basins of the Mediterranean enjoyed in healthfulness and equability of climate, in fertility of soil, in