I 62 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



many of the extensive estates now held by private individuals 

 in this area is due to the exercise of the rights of individuals to 

 appropriate common property. The difficulties at the present 

 day of dealing effectively with fires are due to same cause. A 

 man wishing to acquire land usually wished to possess some 

 part from which he could reasonably expect some revenue, 

 and so it frequently happened that the only lands left for the 

 community were those that were incapable of yielding a revenue. 

 The land appropriated would not necessarily be in one con- 

 tinuous stretch. A redeeming feature of the laws governing the 

 right of private appropriation was the condition enforced with 

 regard to the retention of forest crops on areas capable of 

 growing trees. The administration of communal property was, 

 as a rule, entrusted to jurats named by the community and 

 appointed for a definite time. There were usually two of 

 these ; the position does not seem to be one that was greatly 

 desired, but once appointed, it appears to have been difficult to 

 dispose of the appointment. The jurats were assisted in the 

 work by a syndic, who was also appointed by the community. 

 The care of the municipal interests was no enviable position. 

 Those appointed made the necessary contracts for the leasing 

 of communal property ; they were also responsible for the pro- 

 tection of the property against private individuals of the com- 

 munity and against individuals of neighbouring districts. It 

 sometimes happened that certain persons within the community 

 worked the common property in such a manner that they derived 

 the benefits while the community as a whole suffered. The 

 support given to the syndic in his unpopular office was frequently 

 not of a nature that strengthened his position. More enlightened 

 communities drew up and enforced rules of management for 

 their forest property. They provided for the necessary work 

 of cleaning of young woods by means of a contribution of 

 labour exacted from men of the parish. Timber required for 

 public purposes was felled by direction of the syndic. Felling 

 of timber by individuals was forbidden under pain of a fine. 

 Litter raking in young pine woods was forbidden, and the sale 

 of resin rights was controlled for the benefit of the community. 

 Fire protection was provided for in case of resin-melting plants, 

 and farmers were forced to perform the necessary clearance of 

 litter and undergrowth around roads. If these failed to perform 

 the work required it was performed at their expense. 



