342 Italy. 



propositions for their improvement were called for, 

 which led to legislative proposals, introduced in 

 1862, and legislation enacted in 1863. 



The law of 1863 still treated each province inde- 

 pendently: forest inspectors for each province, and for 

 Naples an Inspector General, with district foresters 

 and a large number of forest guards were appointed. 



Another law, applicable only to certain parts of the 

 Kingdom, was enacted in 1874, intended to check the 

 progress of deforestation and prevent turning waste 

 woodlands into pasture; these absolute forest soils 

 were to be reforested within five years. The law 

 remained a dead letter, yet it is still in force in part, 

 with modifications enacted in 1886. 



The final unification of the country as far as legis- 

 lative unity is concerned, was completed in 1877, 

 and in that year the first general forest law for all 

 Italy was also enacted. 



This law, which has mainly in view the protective 

 influence of forest cover as a factor in the public 

 welfare, leaving all private property not falling under 

 the character of protection forest entirely free, estab- 

 lished provincial forest commissions conservation 

 boards unpaid, who were to enact rules and regu- 

 lations best adapted to their localities. The Board 

 of Commissioners consisted of the prefect of the pro- 

 vince, ex-officio president; an inspector of forests, 

 the technical officer who administers the government 

 property; an engineer appointed by the governor; 

 and three members chosen by the provincial council; 

 in addition, each communal council was to send 

 one member to take part in the deliberations of 



