Silviculture. 267 



for the use of the mast, which then formed more than 

 one-quarter of the income from the royal forests. 



In the 18th century the need of forest management 

 was recognized, and in 1763 the two eminent Grerman 

 foresters, von Langen and von Zanthier (see g, 83) 

 were invited to visit Denmark and Norway (see above) 

 with a view of organizing such management. In 1760 

 eight young Danes were sent to von Langen in Wemi- 

 gerode to study his methods for three years, and these 

 with the two Grerman foresters returned in 1763, and 

 under the direction of von Langen organized the Seeland 

 forest areas and started the first plantations of conifers, 

 which are now the pride of Danish foresters. 



In 1781 the State forests were altogether placed under 

 an organized administration. 



By the beginning of the 19th century the reduction of 

 forest areas had progressed to such an extent that in 

 1805 a law was enacted providing that the then existing 

 forest area containing beech and oak should be main- 

 tained forever, or at least that for any new clearing an 

 equivalent area be planted to forest. This law was per- 

 haps the result of a journey in 1802 to Germany made 

 by two leading officials of the forest department, Ger- 

 man influence through Cotta and Hartig being at this 

 time visible everywhere. 



Other restrictions in the disposal of peasants' farms 

 or woodlands and in the manner of farming the large 

 estates otherwise than by renting to farmers, were also 

 enacted in order to secure stability of the peasant class 

 and to prevent aggregation of large estates. In this 

 reform movement the name of Count Reventlow appears 

 as the leading spirit, as Chief of the State forest depart- 

 ment. 



