1885.] TREE PHOTOGRAPHS— A FOREST COMMUNE. 17 



TREE PHOTOGRAPHS. 



AT the April meeting of the Botanical Society, Dr. Cleghorn 

 exhibited, through the kindness of Mr. J. Murray, F.E.S., the 

 album of photographs taken during the cruise of the Challenger. A 

 selection of thirty-seven of these will be found illustrating the 

 Narrative of that Expedition, which is now published in 2 vols. 4to, 

 and upon which Mr. Murray, assisted by other distinguished natura- 

 lists, has been engaged for three years. We may have occasion to 

 advert to this magnificent work hereafter, meanwhile it may be 

 noted that Government considered it best to place the whole of the 

 remaining photographs in the hands of a professional photographer, 

 who repays himself for printing by selling copies at a low price. 



Dr. Cleghorn drew attention to the great value of these photo- 

 types, illustrating the vegetation of various countries, and delineating 

 some very remarkable trees, as the Baobab, Dragon tree. Silk 

 Cotton tree. Cochineal plantation. Sago palm, Traveller's tree 

 (Ravenalia), etc. He recommended members to visit the studio of 

 Mr. Horsburgh, Edinburgh, where copies of all except those printed 

 in the Narrative can be obtained. 



A FOREST COMMUNE. 



IN the township of Freudenstadt, at the foot of Kniebis, in 

 Baden, not a single farthing of taxation has been paid since 

 its foundation in 1557. The commune possesses about 5000 acres 

 of pine forest and meadow land, worth about £10,000 sterling. 

 The 1420 inhabitants have each as much wood for their building 

 purposes and firing as they wish for, and each one can send out to 

 pasture, during the summer, his cattle which he feeds during the 

 winter months. The schools, church, thoroughfares, and fountains 

 are all well cared for, and every year considerable improvements 

 are made. 100,000 marks were employed in 1883 for the estab- 

 lishment in the village of a distribution of water with iron pipes. 

 A hospital has been built, and a pavilion in the market-place, where 

 a band plays on the fete days. Each year a distribution of the 

 surplus revenue is made amongst the families, and they each obtain 

 from fifty to sixty marks or shillings, and more still when an extra- 

 ordinary quantity of timber has been sold. In 1882, 80,000 marks 

 were distributed amongst the 1420 villagers. 



Emile de Laveleye, in Contemporary Revievj. 



