1883.] THE FORESTS OF SWITZERLAND. 117 



followed witnessed no further activity in this direction. At a 

 subsequent period, legislation again dealt with the subject, but 

 real progi-ess was very slow. In the years between 1830 and 

 1840 the opinion became generally accepted that forests were 

 not only intended to furnish suppUes of wood, but have also other 

 objects in the economy of Nature, upon which the welfare of the 

 people is in a great measure dependent. This view was of 

 material assistance in the economy of forestry. All the cantonal 

 governments devoted attention to enacting forest laws, and to 

 seeing they were observed. Though in some cases these 

 endeavours were not successful, a good deal of improvement was 

 made in level and hilly districts ; the higher mountainous regions 

 not maldng equal progress in the matter. The federal authorities, 

 moreover, gave attention to the subject, the practical importance 

 of which was recognised by the estabhshment, in 1855, of a School 

 of Forestry. An official investigation as to the situation of 

 mountain forests took place in 1858, and money was spent later 

 on in executing various improvements. 



A federal law of 24th March, 1876, provided for supei^ision by 

 the government of forest matters in the mountainous districts, 

 thus affording a definite foundation for the national organisation 

 deahng with the subject. The principal object of forest officials 

 is now the carrying out of such improvements as experience has 

 shown to be necessary ; and the Exhibition is considered hkely to 

 be of service in this respect, by displaying what has been done, 

 and by giving prominence to the various means by which the 

 ends in view may be most easily attained. 



Maps and works bearing on forestry are shown by the Depart- 

 ment of the Ministry of Agriculture which deals with that 

 particular subject, as well as by the School of Forestry in 

 connection with the Polytechnic Institution at Zurich. Various 

 cantonal authorities exhibit specimens of the products of forests 

 under thek jurisdiction ; and the entire display, though not large, 

 is valuable as illustrating the past and present features of 

 Swiss forestry. 



J. W. B. 



