66 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



On 31st March 1904, the law applicable to Basilicata came into 

 force ; in imposing the forest servitude this recognises, besides 

 the interests of hydraulic and hygienic interests, the economic 

 factor also. It provides for exemption from land tax in favour 

 of those who re-afforest, and grants them prizes ; and it authorises 

 an outlay of ^856,400 for the regularisation of the water- 

 courses in the plain and in the mountains, including the work of 

 re-afforestation and of strengthening the slopes. 



The law of 25th June 1906, applicable to Calabria, confirms 

 the exemptions from land tax and the giving of prizes to 

 those who re-afforest, and votes ^935,700 for the regular- 

 isation of the water-courses in the plain and in the mountains, 

 ^352,000 for drainage, and ;^i 37,400 for consolidating slopes 

 that threaten inhabited centres with landslips. 



On 19th July of the same year a law relating to Vesuvius 

 •was passed ; it authorises an outlay of ^234,000 to repair the 

 damage caused by the eruption and by the subsequent down- 

 pours, and to provide for the regularisation of the water-courses 

 and woods, besides a further ;^8o,ooo for similar regularisation 

 on the southern slopes of Vesuvius. 



On 5th May 1907, a law providing a Water Board for the 

 provinces of Venetia and of Mantua was passed. This provides 

 one administrative office for the control of the public waters in 

 the provinces of Venetia, Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, Verona, 

 Rovigo, Udine, Belluno and in that portion of the province of 

 Mantua lying between the Po and the Mincio ; this law is the 

 beginning of a wise decentralisation in the management of 

 waters and forests. 



On loth November 1907, the measures for Sardinia were 

 approved; and on 5th April 1908, a sum of ^^8000 was voted to 

 assist the work of improving the pastures, preference being given 

 to those belonging to communes and associations. 



On 2nd June 1910, Luzzatti's law was passed for the 

 constitution of a vast State forest domain and for the protection 

 and encouragement of silviculture; and on 22nd December of 

 the same year another law on the works to be carried out on the 

 waters and forests of mountain basins was approved. It allows for 

 an outlay of ^198,000 in the first five years, and ;^793,ooo in 

 the next fifteen years. On 13th July 191 1, another law on 

 mountain basins, water control and drainage was approved. 



The last statistics published (on 31st December 1907) refer to 



