80 Germany. 



measure occurred, but only in the 18th century did 

 the present method of selling wood by measure after 

 felling come into existence. In Prussia, the buyer had 

 to take the risk of felling, and pay, even if the tree 

 proved to be rotten, or broke in the felling. The 

 forest owner seems to have had the whip hand in de- 

 termining the price one-sidedly, revising, i.e., in- 

 creasing the toll in longer or shorter intervals. But, 

 in 1713, we find mention of wood-auctions, or at least 

 similar methods of getting the best prices. Finally, 

 special market days for making sales and for desig- 

 nating of wood were instituted; on these days also, 

 all offences against the forest laws were adjudged. 



11. Forest Administration. 



The administration of the different forest properties 

 which the princes had aggregated in the course of 

 time was at first a part of the general administration 

 of the princely property. The requirements in the 

 woods being merely to look after utilization and pro- 

 tection, illiterate underlings (Forstknechte) were suffi- 

 cient to carry out the police functions, generally 

 under a Forstmeister, or Oberforstmeister, who from 

 time to time would make an inspection tour. Later 

 on, when a more intensive forest management had 

 come into existence, it became customary to call in 

 experienced foresters from outside to make inspec- 

 tions and give advice. 



A much more elaborate organization of service is, 

 however, reported in the mining districts of the Harz 

 mountains, in 1547, with the Director of Mines 

 (Berghauptman) at the head, and different grades of 



