Development of Forest Policy. 343 



the board as far as his particular commune was 

 interested. 



By this law the country is divided into two sections 

 vertically, namely the territory above the limit of chest- 

 nut, and that below this limit, the latter represent- 

 ing the farming country, the territory above being 

 unfit for agricultural use. To the former the restric- 

 tions of the law apply as a rule (terreni soggetti al 

 vincolo jor estate ban forest), to the latter, as excep- 

 tion, namely where the removal of forest or brush 

 cover might cause landslides, or affect stream flow 

 or health conditions unfavorably. The chestnut 

 limit naturally varies in different parts, but, generally 

 speaking, lies between 1,800 and 2,000 feet elevation. 

 The determination of these areas was to be made by 

 the provincial forest committees, and it is significant 

 to note that in these the State forest administration 

 did not have the majority. 



The territory under restriction, was in 1887, after 

 various revisions, established as comprising 7.5 million 

 acres of forest and 2.5 million acres of brush and waste, 

 nearly 71% of the forest area being thus placed under 

 restriction; leaving 2.5 million acres of forest and over 

 2 million of brush and waste outside the working of 

 the law ; these latter areas are left entirely without re- 

 strictions, except as general police regulations apply. 

 The execution of the law and regulations is left to 

 the State Forest Department with an organization 

 of forest guards (some 3,000 in 1883), appointed by 

 the prefect of the province with the advice of the 

 forestry commission, but acting under the State 

 forest administration. Their pay was to come to 



