Conditions in Hungary. 179 



east. Nevertheless, while wood in the plain is scarce, 

 the total forest area including that of the two men- 

 tioned provinces, is but little less than that of Austria 

 proper, namely, 23,000,000 acres (28%). Large areas 

 of shifting sands, and, along the Danube and Theiss 

 rivers, swamps, partly created by deforestation, are 

 interspersed with the heavy black prairie and compact 

 clay-soils. 



At present, of the 23 million acres of forest the 

 State owns 16%, corporations somewhat over 20%, 

 churches, cloisters and other institutes 7.5%, and the 

 balance, over 13 million acres, is owned privately. 

 The administration of the State forests is in the 

 Department of Agriculture but some are still under 

 the control of the military and railroad departments. 



All but the private forests are under State surveil- 

 lance. Of the private properties the majority con- 

 sists of large holdings and about ten per cent, are 

 entailed, a hopeful condition for conservative manage- 

 ment. Yet with an export of 10 to 12 million dollars 

 or more, exploitation would appear still to be general, 

 and devastated areas abound. It is claimed that half 

 the area is under working plans, and that the 1000 

 million cubic feet of annual cut do not approach the 

 annual increment. The State forests yield now in the 

 neighborhood of $600,000 net. 



Although naturally influenced by Austrian prece- 

 dent, forestry matters in Hungary like all matters 

 of administration are largely independent of Austria, 

 the connection being only in the identity of the 

 ruler. 



The forests, which had been for the most part the 



