VISIT TO A FRENCH PRIVATE FOREST. I 77 



portions, and that the aesthetic aspect of the forest was anything 

 but improved by the scarred and blazed stems ; it was con- 

 sequently decided to abandon the operation. There can be 

 no doubt that under suitable modifications the tapping would 

 have been a commercial success, and that the annual financial 

 yield would have appreciated largely. But the proprietress 

 probably decided wisely in not persisting with the scheme. 



Paulmy is worked under the Selection system, a method that 

 is not well adapted to resin-tapping, although the combination 

 succeeds in the communal forest of Anglet near Biarritz. But 

 it would be necessary under this system to define rigorously 

 the paths to be used by the tappers, and to supervise their 

 work very thoroughly. The alternative would be to replace 

 Selection by the Compartment system in vogue in the Landes 

 forests, under which resin-tapping can be effected with the 

 minimum of difficulty and harm. In a French State forest 

 this expedient would almost certainly have been resorted to ; 

 but in a private forest many points of view, besides that of 

 the highest " silvicultural possibility " have to be considered. 

 There is a limit to the capital which a proprietor is prepared 

 to spend on his property, and also to the amount of labour 

 available. The change of system or the safeguards outlined 

 would have involved a very considerable outlay, and a large 

 permanent staff of workmen. Now at Paulmy there is only 

 just enough labour to run the farms with a small margin for 

 minor forest operations during the off season. The surrounding 

 district is not thickly populated, and the introduction of foreign 

 labour would have necessitated a considerable capital outlay 

 (for housing, etc.), with an annually recurring charge. It is 

 possible, moreover, that from other points of view such a step 

 might not have been a success. Paulmy is in the heart of 

 the Tourraine country — the stronghold of such conservative 

 traditions as still persist in France. Anything contrary to 

 the "custom of the country" would be regarded with marked 

 disfavour and meet with veiled opposition. The proprietress, 

 doubtless, also hopes to re-establish the former reputation of the 

 forest as a game preserve, and it is only natural that she should 

 wish to retain, as far as possible, the natural beauties of the land- 

 scape. Tapping would certainly militate against both projects, 

 and it is therefore necessary to devise a scheme of future treat- 

 ment that will be, as far as possible, in accordance with her aims. 



