7i6 Forestry Quarterly. 



Mexico City and, since ornamental and fruit trees were more 

 popular than forest trees, the distribution gradually took shape in 

 that direction. In 1907, at the instance of the council, four French 

 foresters were imported to take charge of the nurseries and plant- 

 ing and possibly of the management of the federal forest area. 

 But the Department of PubHc Works was not disposed to cede 

 jurisdiction over the latter. The only result, therefore, besides 

 the nurseries was a successful plantation to bind the sand dunes 

 or shifting sands near Vera Cruz after creating a litoral dune. 

 Even this v/ork was done under bickerings by the local members 

 of the association itself. 



Since in the dry climate of Mexico without rain for seven 

 months it is hardly possible without irrigation to make trees grow, 

 the results of the planting efforts compared with the expense 

 have, indeed, remained disappointing. 



A re-organization took place in 1909 which placed the forest 

 service specially on a new footing under the Department of Public 

 Works (Fomento) in the Direction of Agriculture. This Direc- 

 tion is divided into five sections i. Agricultural teaching and 

 experimenting, pathology of plants and animals; 2. Agricultural 

 propaganda ; 3. Rural economy and statistics ; 4. Forestry ; 5. 

 Biological exploitation of the national domain. 



The Central Council becomes then also a part of the Direction 

 of Agriculture in section 4, which has in charge "the conservation, 

 €xploration, exploitation and police of the national and municipal 

 woodlands in the Federal District and the Territories." The 

 Section is to make a reconnaissance of the public timber and de- 

 termine which areas are ready for immediate exploitation and 

 which are to be "reserved for reforestation." The exploitation is 

 done under timber licenses running for not more than 10 years 

 under conditions prescribed by the Minister, among which a bond 

 in proportion to the value of the limit. For special woods, dye 

 woods, ebony and other extraordinary forest products an annual 

 ground rent equal to 6% of the value of the territory according to 

 a variable valuation is imposed. 



Provision is made for reservations to protect water courses or 

 for other reasons, and for this purpose expropriations may be 

 made, especially if replanting is necessary, or else arrangements 

 with the owners for conservation or reforestation of their lands 



