THE ZtjRICH WOODS. 45 



certain obligations, subventions to the extent of 75 per cent, 

 of the total cost of formation may be allowed. 



In the case of protection-woods (i.e., woods scheduled as 

 being necessary for the protection of the land, for checking 

 erosion, preventing avalanches, etc.) laws of much severity are 

 enforced, but private owners of such areas are duly compensated 

 for loss and restriction of rights. Everyone will, of course, 

 recognise the need of having laws regarding protection-forests 

 in a mountainous country, but the adoption of such paternal 

 methods in regard to other woodlands is more remarkable. 



In Switzerland there is on the one hand encouragement and 

 direct financial aid where new areas are being planted, and on 

 the other hand restriction in the case of those landowners who 

 would unwarrantably deforest. We may not agree with such 

 interference with the voluntary action of the individual, but that 

 it has been resorted to by a country so justly famed for the 

 freedom and independence of its people as Switzerland is, shows 

 at least that forestry matters are seriously considered there. 

 The obvious intention of the Swiss Government is not only 

 to conserve existing forest resources but to add to the wooded 

 area of the country by every means in their power ; and I believe 

 that the restrictive measures have not aroused any feeling of 

 resentment because the treatment of the forest-owner on the 

 whole is recognised as being just if not even generous. 



For most of the information contained in the above account 

 of the Zurich woods, I am indebted to Herr Forstmeister 

 Meister, whose book Die Stadtwaldungens von Zurich should 

 be consulted for a full account of the forest. Letters of intro- 

 duction were kindly given me to Herr Meister and others, by Mr 

 John Mahler, of Penissa Glyn, Chirk, who is a relative of the 

 Forstmeister. I am therefore particularly grateful to him and 

 to Mr Rordorf-Mahler, of Ziirich, who not only acted as my 

 friend and guide in Ziirich, but arranged the details of the rest 

 of my Swiss tour. To Herr Forstassessor Tuchschmid I am 

 also much obliged for many useful notes, and for his great 

 kindness in conducting- me through the Sihlwald. 



