FORESTRY IN FRANCE. 279 
Champagne, are stocked with coniferous species, which are fre- 
quently more suited to the local conditions, under which they 
yield a better revenue than could be derived from other kinds of 
trees. Notwithstanding that the private forests are, as a rule, 
more favourably situated than those owned by the State, or by 
communes, the gross revenue per acre derived from them is con- 
siderably less ; because the trees, being cut down at a young age, 
yield a large proportion of timber of a small size and firewood. 
On the other hand, their capital value is less, and, when they 
are properly managed, they should give a higher rate of interest. 
But unfortunately, although there are exceptions to the general 
rule, and some of the private forests are maintained in an excellent 
condition, it cannot be said that, generally speaking, they are so ; 
for while coppice, and particularly simple coppice, is exhausting 
to the soil, from the young age at which the crop is cut and 
removed, and, in consequence of the comparative frequency with 
which the ground is denuded, tends to its physical deterioration, 
working plans are rarely prepared, and there is consequently no 
guarantee that the cuttings are confined within proper limits. 
The fellings are, in fact, too frequently, regulated according to the 
financial requirements of the owner, rather than by the considera- 
tions which ought to govern such operations; and hence it follows, 
that the condition of the private forests is not always such as 
could be desired. This is found to be the case in all countries ; but 
it is probably especially so in France, where the laws relating to 
the division of the land on the death of its owner, and the custom 
of the country, tend constantly to diminish the number of large 
properties, and to leave in the hands of each proprietor an area 
of woodland too small to admit of its management on a regular 
system. 
The produce derived from the private forests is, however, large 
in amount, and of very great value. Exact figures are not obtain- 
able; but it is probable that the 26,657 square miles yield 
annually over 12 million loads (of 50 cubic feet) of wood, with 
about 270 thousand tons of tanning bark, 2250 tons of cork 
bark, and 30 thousand tons of resin—worth, altogether, more 
than £6,000,000; while the isolated trees and vines yield another 
34 million loads of wood, valued at £1,000,000. The number of 
foresters and guards employed in these forests is, however, com- 
paratively speaking, very limited; this being due, in a great 
measure, to the small size of the individual properties, which are 
