Conditions in Hungary. 165 



against the Turks. The planting of forests for defense 

 was ordered (1743) by Maria Theresa, but this order 

 was probably never executed. 



About this time, however, movements of reform in 

 various directions are noticeable. About 1750 complete 

 working plans were made for the KJremnitz forest and in 

 1763 for the Schemnitz forest. The forest ordinances of 

 1770 and 1781 and the law of 1791 attempted to regulate 

 the use of communal forests and ordered the reservation 

 of devastated forest areas. Other legislation followed in 

 1807 designed to arrest the further extension of shifting 

 sands. 



Although since 1809 forest inspectors had been em- 

 ployed to look after the execution of the forest laws, mis- 

 management and forest destruction by promiscuous cut- 

 ting, pasture and fire remained the rule and with the 

 advent of the railroads in 1850 increased apace. 



Political troubles prevented any attempts at im- 

 provement until in 1867 comparative peace and the new 

 regime had arrived, and finally in 1879 it became possible 

 to pass a reform law, which is tiie basis of present con- 

 ditions. 



At present, of the 23 million acres of forest the State 

 o^ms 16%, corporations somewhat over 20%, churches, 

 cloisters and other institutes 7.5% and the balance is 

 o^Tied privately. Of the private properties the majority 

 consists 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 



