Note 82 — Chapter XII · THE WATER OF SOILS.—Continued.

Toumey (Yearbook U. S. Dep’t Agr. 1903) states that in the San Bernardino mountains in southern California, the first rainfall (in December) was absorbed to the extent of 95% in forested areas, against only 60% in the non-forested; but that later, after the soil had been partially saturated, 60% only was absorbed in the forested land, against 5% in the non-forested. While it is generally admitted that forests diminish the runoff, Rafter (Relation of Rainfall to Runoff, U. S. Geol. Survey Paper, No. 80, p. 53) contends that in New York State the reverse is true.