FOREST ADMINISTRATION IN THE CANTON VAUD, SWITZERLAND. 79 



materials for chalets, takes the place of the chestnut at a higher 

 altitude. We may mention in passing that one often meets with 

 chalets built of larch in the fifteenth century, the wood being 

 quite black with age, but perfectly sound. 



Other trees are the white sapin (Picea pectitiata), which rises 

 above the beech on the Jura and other mountains, giving way in 

 its tui-n to the Cytisus aljnnus. The red sapin (Abies excelsa), 

 which is found above the larch in altitudes where the cold is too 

 severe for the full development of the latter. The maple {Acer 

 opulifolium) is found in company with the Cytisus aljyinus above 

 mentioned, while the Cytisus lahunmim prefers the lower slopes. 

 The Pinus sylvestris, or Scots fir, is not found in its full develop- 

 ment in Switzerland. 



FORMER PRODIGALITY OF FOREST RESOURCES. 



It may surprise our readers to be told that, with all this pos- 

 session of forest wealth, with the absolute necessity for a lai-ge 

 supply of wood fuel for the maintenance of the industries of the 

 country, with the pressing duty of preserving barriers of forest 

 for the protection of the villagers from destruction by avalanches, 

 and of the soil from disintegration by floods, — the reckless use of 

 these resoui'ces was such that thirty years ago the canton of Vaud 

 was, in common with the rest of Switzerland, dependent upon 

 foreign importation for its supply not only of timber but of fire- 

 wood. 



An official report, which was called for in the year 1858-59, 

 stated that " the actual production of the forests was not sufiicient 

 for the consumption of the inhabitants — it forms only 76 per cent., 

 and if one adds all the other combustibles we have still a deficit 

 of 4 per cent." And again, " The Alps, which ought to furnish 

 the wood necessary for the more populous districts of the plain, 

 from which much wood is exported, do not produce even sufiicient 

 for the demands of the inhabitants, without counting the needs of 

 the industries and of the means of transport." 



And the consequences were more serious still ; for it was re- 

 ported " that many of the inhabitants of the mountains know that 

 avalanches now fall in places which were not formerly exposed to 

 this plague." 



RENDERING NECESSARY A NEW FOREST ACT. 



This state of matters led to the passing of a new law, on the 



