174 Austria. 



advice, and by assistance with plant material and 

 money. 



By this move, so much land was withdrawn from 

 pasture and taxation that opposition was aroused 

 among the cattle owners, which led to additional 

 legislation during the years 1882 to 1887, and finally 

 to the creation of a commission charged to select the 

 lands which in the interest of the country required 

 reforestation, and empowered to enforce this improve- 

 ment within a given time, the State expropriating the 

 lands of objecting owners. At the same time, the 

 Commission brought about the division of pasture 

 lands which were held in communal ownership. 



By 1909, of the 75,000 acres selected by the Com- 

 mission as of immediate interest 15,000 acres had 

 been planted, mostly with Austrian Pine, at an aver- 

 age cost of $8 to $16 per acre, the cost including stone 

 enclosures for the plantations, to protect them against 

 cattle and fire, and the repairs, which sometimes 

 equalled the original expense. In addition, some 

 50,000 acres of natural growth were brought into 

 productive condition merely by protection. 



While this activity refers to the northern portion 

 of the coast region, the Karst of Dalmatia farther 

 south, being oak country, was mainly recuperated by 

 protective measures. Here, in 1873, the pasturing of 

 goats was forbidden on areas of over one million acres 

 in extent which were found capable of reforestation. 

 In 1876, the partition of communal holdings was 

 ordered, and portions were designated for forest use, 

 to be planted. As a result of these measures, nearly 

 400,000 acres have been recuperated. 



