The Earth as Modified by Human Action | Page 6

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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