143 



The severe droaglits of the Karst region are unfavorable to the growth 

 of tree-seeds, except the chestnut, wahuit, and others which admit of 

 being planted deep enough to secure the requisite moisture. The best 

 results have been obtained with Austrian pine two years old and decid- 

 uous trees one and two years old, set in holes a foot square and from 3 

 to 5 feet apart. A man can dig eighty to one hundred holes per day, 

 and a "woman can set four hundred to six hundred plants per day. 

 Grass and weeds are beneficial in shading the soil and giving shelter from 

 the wind. It is useless to raise mounds around the base of the trees, as 

 the heavy rains wash them away. Fencing against live stock is desir- 

 able. The digging of the holes is paid for by a special tax, and the 

 nurseries furnish all the trees necessary to fill them. Formerly each 

 district was permitted to transplant its own trees, but the wretched 

 manner in which this was done caused the government to take the su- 

 ])ervision in its own hands and to employ only skilled laborers. The 

 Karst is divided into four sections, each under the authority of a forester 

 appointed by the government. The general direction, including the 

 management of the central nurseries, is confided to an inspector resid- 

 ing at Trieste. 



The foresters are appointed by the minister of agriculture on recom- 

 mendation of the governor, and receive a salary of 1,200 gulden per an- 

 num, with an increase of 100 gulden every five years till the whole reaches 

 1,800 gulden. They are also allowed rations and traveling expenses. 

 Their duties embrace the enforcement of the forest laws, and the regu- 

 lar visitation of the forests-according to a plan devised by the governor 

 and the local authorities. They are also to assist private enterprise as 

 far as possible, and to use their utmost influence to extend forest-culture. 

 They are expected to watch closely, and frequently report the practical 

 workings of the measures taken for re-afforesting the country ; to lay 

 out, build, and control timber-slides ; to give instruction in forestry ; to 

 prepare estimates for the local government, also tables of statistics and 

 blanks for local officers ; to superintend all forest operations, including 

 nurseries; to keep a record of their action ; to prepare estimates for the 

 government, and to give all practical information on forestry to private 

 individuals and societies. The system contemplates not merely a routine 

 official action on the part of these officers, but also an intelligent and 

 spontaneous co-operation with every effort that shall be made by all 

 parties for re-aflbresting the country. Subordinate foresters are ap- 

 pointed to carry out their measures and to ijerforni the details o£ forest 

 duty. 



Forest legislation and the administration under it have become already 

 a very considerable branch of jurisprudence of a very practical character. 

 It has not yet been found necessary to use compulsory measures, as the 

 spontaneous demand for forest-culture has so far exceeded the means pro- 

 vided by the government; yet a few districts refuse to have anything to 

 do with it. The i)olicy of the ministry is to bring all steep slopes 

 and all bare places under the jurisdiction of the foresters, for the pur- 

 pose of replanting them in woods. The forests already standing are 

 under close supervision, and many wasteful abuses have been corrected. 



According to history and tradition, this whole Karst region was once 

 covered with oak-forests. Previous to the twelfth century it furnished 

 piles, ship and building timber for the republic of Venice during her 

 brilliant maritime career. The previous spoliations of Aquilegia, a 

 prominent stronghold of the old Roman Empire, had but slightly affected 

 the immense resources of the forests then existing, Venice plundered 

 the Istrian forests systematically, and reduced that previously fertile 



