FOREST ECONOMICS 151 



only of the soil on which it stands, but also of neighbour- 

 ing land or even of land at a distance as, for example, 

 when the latter is liable to suffer from floods. 



The protective action consists mainly in binding the soil. 

 This may take the form either of checking the erosive effects 

 of very heavy rains which wash away the soil, or of preventing 

 the drifting of sand. 



Even though descriptions of the nature of land which 

 ought to be treated as protective forest are carefully circulated, 

 it is still found that if the matter be left to private action the 

 results are almost invariably unsatisfactory. This experience 

 has led to State intervention. In many countries qualified 

 Government officials inspect the threatened areas, and forest 

 courts are held. Should these declare the forests in question 

 to have a distinctly protective function to perform, the areas 

 are at once brought under definite laws, restricting the freedom 

 of use of such land. In Prussia and Austria investigation 

 with a view to State restriction or control, is made only as 

 occasion demands ; but in Switzerland, Italy, Russia, 

 Wiirtemberg, and Hungary inspection of the country for 

 this purpose takes place periodically at regularly appointed 

 intervals. The former system is the more desirable. 



In order that a protection wood may realise the end in 

 view, it must always be maintained in good condition and 

 be managed with particular care. The better to accomplish 

 this, certain rules are drawn up, to forbid clear-felling, the 

 entrance of grazing stock, the extraction of tree stumps, etc. ; 

 but, naturally enough, the specific treatment necessary for 

 each case must vary with the circumstances. 



As will be readily appreciated, the enforcement of the 

 regulations for the treatment of this class of woods is effected 

 only with greatest difficulty, more especially as the single 

 owner often surfers in the interests of the many. In con- 

 sequence, the procedure usually adopted is a transference 

 of the endangered areas from private hands into the possession 

 of the State. 



This may be done by negotiation and purchase, should the 



