140 ITALY - l^IISCELLANEOUS 



generally commences and then the cattle return to the mountains in search 

 of fresher and more luxuriant meadows. 



In order to improve the pastures, from time to time, areas are 

 ploughed and sown, above all where the wood is thinnest and where 

 reafforestation has already been begun. 



Underwood is also abundant. It provides excellent fuel. It is divided 

 into two classes : the first, consisting of the underwood of the divisions 

 remote from the town, is sold every four j^ears; the other satisfies the 

 needs of the public, the inhabitants exercising their right to it in virtue of 

 the jus legnandi (right of cutting wood) . The public customary rights are 

 also subject to special regulations intended to secure the forest from de- 

 struction. 



The right to cut firewood is in fact only allowed in the case of bushes, 

 never in that of trees, and it is limited to special districts, established by 

 the Municipal Bxecutive Council. Contraventions are reported to the maj^or, 

 who in his turn may denounce them to the legal authorities. 



Besides the jus legnandi, the poorer inhabitants have other little facil- 

 ities for advancing their domestic industries or obtaining the means for 

 gaining something in their days of unemployment. They utiUse a small 

 plant, very common in the woods, the dwarf palm, with the leaves of which 

 they manufacture various articles of use in agriculture and for domestic 

 purposes : string, baskets, straps, hats, articles of esparto, brooms etc. 



The women above all are occupied in this class of work. A woman can 

 make two baskets a day, which brings in 1.60 frs., or i 14 kg- of thread, 

 and she can make 90 centimes in that way. 



From the dwarf palm, vegetable horse hair can be made which is used 

 to stuff mattresses. Those exercising customary rights also use the reeds 

 to make all kinds of baskets. 



In addition, they seek for mushrooms and truffles, collect herbs, and 

 hunt game, which is very abundant in the forest. 



As we see, this forest is a source of considerable revenue to the commune 

 and gives the poorer inhabitants a means of livelihood. 



(b) Improvements — In the Bosco Santo Pietro, there are, however, many 

 areas without trees and many trees of too great age which are gradually 

 perishing. Thus the managers have decided on reafforesting these areas 

 and replacing the old trees by young ones. 



Reafforestation is above all effected by means of the direct sowing 

 of acorns. But the ravines and the banks of the streams that run through 

 the forest are reafforested with Canadian poplars. Between them cork 

 oaks, acacias, cypresses etc. are planted. 



In the work of reafforestation one plant has not been overlooked which 

 for centuries has grown magnificently in the Bosco San Pietro: the olive, of 

 which about 50,000 trees have been grafted. Thus a large olive wood has 

 been formed, destined to become even larger and to produce an enormous 

 quantity of olives, from which an oil can be derived, which, if suitably 

 treated, will be an honour to the town producing it. 



