THE LANDES OF GASCON Y. 1 63 



The process of improvement in general conditions in the 

 Landes area was a gradual one. The work of early times has 

 been noted, and the early recognition of the value of pine forest 

 has been established. The necessity for the draining of the 

 surface was evident. L'Abbe Baurein, writing in 1784, records 

 the improvement caused by the draining of the marshes around 

 the Seigneurie de Lesparre. The contract for the work was 

 drawn up in 1628 ; the work was undertaken by several Flemish 

 families. A second contract for further work of the same 

 kind was drawn up in '633. The result of such undertakings 

 was not only to bring a large area under cultivation, but also 

 to free the district from the continual evil effects of large extents 

 of stagnant water. Other examples of similar work performed 

 are recorded by the same writer. The work of improving the 

 land was undertaken by many different persons, and when 

 Chambrelent, in 1849, acquired the area of Pierroton there 

 were already within a very narrow circle numerous examples 

 of the improvement brought about by earlier workers. The 

 work of improvement was checked for a period by the revolu- 

 tion, but later it was continued by many wealthy companies. 

 As forest crops were less likely to give high returns than field 

 crops at the time, the immediate effect was rather to conserve 

 any existing forest than to create fresh forest areas. The 

 constant risk of loosing the forest crop through fire, and the 

 necessary exclusion of stock from young pine woods, acted as 

 a deterrent to speculation in forest crops. 



The opening of the Bordeaux - Bayonne railway in 1855 

 necessitated the construction of certain works of improvement, 

 which was reflected in the price of timber and resin in the 

 district, but the revenue obtained was still unsatisfactory from 

 a financial standpoint. An unforeseen event, and one quite 

 beyond the control of the country, caused a wave of prosperity 

 in the land that has never been surpassed. The American 

 war of i860 prevented the export from that country of the 

 resin products, and a rise of prices in Europe resulted in 

 consequence. Although the prices fell on conclusion of the 

 war, they still remained at a figure that gave a revenue worthy 

 of consideration, and as a result planting became common and 

 the future of the district as a forest area was assured. The 

 general development of the area was continued by the building 

 of roads. 



