155 



In the National Appropriation Bill large sums are set apart for the purchase of such 

 lands as are unfit for cultivation, and for utilizing the same by planting trees. 



In the Germam Empire 25.7 per centum of the aggregate area is occupied hy forests 

 — that is, 13,873,065 hectares out of 53,974,041 hectares. In Prussia the percentage of 

 wooded land is 23.4 per centum of the entire area — that is, 8,124,520 liectares out of 

 34,750,903 hectares. Of the Prussian forests about one-third belong to the State, to wit, 

 2,648,892 hectares, which produce a gross income of about fifty-live million marks, or a 

 net income of about twenty-five million marks. The Government foresters come within 

 the province of the Minister of Agriculture and Forests. At the head of this department 

 is the Chief Master of the Forests ; in each governmental district is the Forest Master, 

 who serves as a member of the Governmental Commission, and the entire forest area is 

 divided into 680 principal forest districts. Each forest district is separately valued, and 

 for each separate part regulations are devised, which are strictly followed, thus attaining 

 the chief object, of so regulating the annual amount of wood-cutting that a continuous 

 gain in material and money is secured, and even increased. The forest government is 

 devised with the minutest detail, and may well lay claim to being termed exemplary ; it 

 strives not only to utlilize the forest as a source of income, but rather are the Government 

 forests used to continually satisfy the requirements of the country. 



In order to obtain a situation as a Government ofiicer of the forests, a course of study 

 of several years at the Forest Academy is required. After which follows about ten years' 

 preparatory service before a definite engagement can be made, the qualifications for which 

 must be proved by several examinations even for the minor positions in the Forestry 

 Department; several years' apprenticeship and considerable preparatory service connected 

 with the military service in the Hunters' Coi'ps, and two examinations are required. 

 Besides the real Government forests there are the Forests of the Faithful Royal Veterans, 

 Community Forests, Corporation Forests, &c. 



The Forests of the Faithful Royal Veterans are governed entirely according to the 

 principles of the State Government. The State exercises a supervisory power over the 

 other forests named, so that even as to these a regulated system of government prevails. 

 It is otherwise with forests owned by private individuals, for they are not restrained in. 

 the use of their forests, and may, according to their own judgment, clear the same and till 

 the soil, in short, dq what they like, and yet there may be certain restrictions placed on 

 the free use of the same as soon as danger to the common welfare is feared ; these 

 restrictions are pi*esci'ibed by the law of July 5, 1875, relative to forest protection. 



This law is applicable in cases : 



1. Where by reason of the sandy nature of the soil, adjoining lands, or public grounds, 

 natural or artificial courses, are in danger of being covered with sand. 



2. Where through the washing away of the soil or through the formation of cascades 

 in open places on the ridges of hill and on hillsides, the arable lands, streets or buildings 

 living below are in danger of being covered with earth or stone or of being flooded ; or 

 the lands or public grounds or buildings lying above are in danger of sliding. 



3. Where through the destruction of the forests along the banks of canals or natural 

 streams riparian lands are in danger of caving, or buildings hitherto protected by the 

 woods are in danger of iceflows. 



4. Where through the destruction of forests rivers are in danger of a diminution of 

 the stage of the water. 



5. Where through the destruction of forests in open jjlaces and near the lakes, neigh- 

 bouring fields are seriously exposed to the detrimental influences of winds. 



In the cases above mentioned, which have been copied verbatim from the statute book, 

 the manner of use as well as the culture of forests may be legally ordered, in order to pre- 

 vent those dangers where the dangers to be averted are considerably in excess of the 

 damages which would result to the owner by reason of the restrictions. 



Excepting the restrictions prescribed by this law, the owner may dispose of his woods 

 as he pleases. 



Finally, permit me to remark that the larceny of wood and other products of the 

 forests is punishable according to a law of April 15, 1878. 



It is evident that these Prussian regulations are not all applicable to the United 



