THE PRESENT CONDITION OF FORESTRY IN ITALY. 69 



the natural protectors and advisers of those engaged in forest 

 industries; they must make a radical change in their tactics, 

 which can no longer consist in perpetually threatening penalties 

 against the destroyers of forests, as this system has proved 

 ineffectual for the maintenance of existing forests. 



For the execution of this vast programme, which includes also 

 the reform of education in forestry, considerable sums have been 

 voted; for the first five years (ist July 1910 to 30th June 1915) 

 these will vary between ;^i, 150,000 and ;^i,3oo,ooo, according 

 to the eventual surplus in the general budget of the State. 



After the first trial of five years, and after considering the 

 results obtained during that time, a future yearly vote will be 

 established. A rather optimistic estimate, compiled in 1910 by 

 the Central Inspectorship of Forests for the General Budget 

 Committee, suggested the possibility for the State of ensuring, 

 by means of an outlay of ;^6, 185,000 to be spent in twenty-five 

 years, a forest domain which in its seventy-fifth year would be 

 worth almost 60 millions. 



Other provisions apparently less important, but of great 

 practical value for those who know the useful conservatism and 

 the injurious passive resistance of bureaucracy, are those con- 

 cerning the establishment of a purely technical general direction 

 relatively independent, distinct from the water, drainage, domain 

 and easement services and from territorial divisions, and 

 resembling the Water Board of Venice and the chief inspection 

 offices of the civil engineering service. 



This law, the result of much study, has a clear vision of 

 the best way of attaining its object, and is the greatest parlia- 

 mentary achievement in forest matters since the union of the 

 kingdom. 



Forest legislation has progressed considerably since 1902, and 

 almost every year it has been increased by a new law. Now, 

 rather than by the enactment of new laws which would risk 

 plunging us into the same chaos that existed before 1877, ^.nd 

 keeping us in the midst of proposals instead of facts, it would 

 be desirable to solve the forest question by means of the existing 

 laws, applying them firmly and perseveringly. If there is one 

 measure necessary to restore to the mountains their wealth of 

 water and forests, it is the tranquil constancy of direction which 

 will enable the owners of forests to proceed quietly and conr 

 tinuously in their work, like Nature herself. 



