204 France. 



although the early history of forestry in France was 

 largely analogous to that of Germany. Indeed, until 

 the end of the ninth century, the two countries being 

 undivided, the same usages existed more or less in 

 both, except that in the Gallic country Roman in- 

 fluence left a stronger imprint, Gallia having been 

 long under the dominion of Rome. 



The fact that France has for nearly a thousand 

 years been a unit, while Germany has until recently 

 been split up into many independent principalities, 

 did much for uniform, albeit less ambitious, develop- 

 ment in forestry matters. 



Most of the forest policy as it exists to-day was 

 inaugurated during the monarchical regime, which 

 came to an end in 1871. Since that year, a republican 

 form of government, with an assembly of 584, a 

 senate of 300 members, under a President elected by 

 the legislature for seven years, has been in existence. 



The country is principally a plain, mostly below 

 1200 feet in altitude, sloping to the north and west; 

 the mountain ranges (Pyrenees, Alps, Jura, Vosges) 

 are confined mainly to the south and east boundaries, 

 with secondary ranges (Cevennes, Cote d'Or, Au- 

 vergne, etc.,) in the southeast part of the country. 



Of the 204,000 square miles of territory, just about 

 18 per cent, is wooded, which, with a population of 

 nearly 40 million, leaves only about .6 of an acre 

 per capita. 



In its present condition this area does not produce 

 more than one-third of the home demand, which re- 

 quires on the average an import in excess over export 

 to the amount of about 25 million dollars ($33 million 



