82 Germany. 



also a decrease in the passion for the hunt. Still, 

 although the forests in Bavaria were declared, in 

 1780 to 1790, to be of more importance than the hunt, 

 and the two services were distinctly separated, the 

 head of the hunt still ranked above the head of the 

 forest service. 



In Prussia, the professional men became early inde- 

 pendent and influential, and by 1770, an organization 

 had been perfected which excelled in thoroughness 

 and simplicity. The salaries of the foresters con- 

 sisted originally mainly in a free house, use of land 

 and pasture rights, their uniform, and incidental 

 emoluments, such as a toll for the designation of timber 

 etc. Later, when everywhere else a regular money 

 management had been introduced, the absence of 

 a cash income and general poverty forced the foresters 

 to steal and extort; and the bad reputation established 

 in the last part of the 18th century, as well as the bad 

 practice, persisted until the 19th century. The lower 

 grades in the service were exceedingly ignorant, and 

 their social position, consequently, very low. Their 

 main business was, indeed, simple, and consisted in 

 the booking of the cut, issuing permits for the removal 

 and the sale of wood, and looking after police functions 

 in the woods. Yet, by 1781, we find regular planting 

 plans submitted in the Prussian administration, and, 

 in 1787, felling plans are on record. 



The administration of justice against offenders in 

 the forests was until the end of the 18th century in 

 charge of the head foresters, and only then was trans- 

 ferred to law officers. Theft of wood, as in olden days, 

 was considered as a smaller offense than other thefts, 



