374 Mediterranean Peninsulas. 



luvial valley of the Danube, now largely deforestecl. The 

 hill and mountain country was until the end of the 

 eighteenth century still well wooded. A rapid depletion 

 then took place by the demands of the Turkish markets, 

 until now not quite 17 per cent, (according to others 20 

 per cent.) of the area is forested, and the universal 

 rights of user, which made commons of the woods, have 

 naturally led to widespread devastation in the accessible 

 parts. In 1847, the National Assembly attempted regu- 

 lation of the cut and of the rights of user, but with little 

 effect. In 1894, the total area had decreased to less 

 than 5 million acres (according to others 6.7 million 

 acres) of which two-j&fths is in private hands, two- 

 fifths State property and Eoyal forest (formerly, until 

 1863, in the hands of the monks), the small balance be- 

 longing to communities and institutes. In the higher 

 mountains, fir and spruce with some pine and larch form 

 the forest; oak and beech occupy the middle altitudes 

 and the hill country. The private forest of small owners 

 is being rapidly depleted, only the State forest and 

 that of large proprietors being in good condition. 



In 1863, when the cloister property was secularized 

 and taken over by the state, the rights of user in this 

 property were suspended, and sales at auction to contract- 

 ors were inaugurated, under condition that a certain 

 number of seed trees per acre be left. There was little 

 enforcement of this rule. 



The first comprehensive law organizing the State prop- 

 erty and inaugurating a protective policy was enacted 

 in 1881. This law recognized State, Eoyal and Communal 

 property as of public concern, and also placed such pri- 

 vate property under supervision as was situated on 



