Forest Acts. 335 



very near wrecking the whole enterprise, and much 

 difference of opinion between the local and general 

 governments existed, the government of Madras going 

 so far as to declare the impossibility of establishing 

 State property in view of the acknowledged rights of 

 the villagers over waste lands. The general policy, 

 however, finally prevailed, and an increasingly har- 

 monious cooperation of the provincial governments has 

 allowed the development of an efficient forest service. 



Various provincial legislation was considered, passed 

 and repealed, until in 1878 the Indian Forest Act VII 

 settled the policy at least for the majority of the prov- 

 inces, Madras and Burma and some minor districts still 

 declining to extend its provisions to their forests. The 

 Burma government enacted, however, similar legislation 

 in 1881, and the Madras government in 1882, and, 

 much later, the other outstanding governments fol- 

 lowed (1886 to 1891), so that, while the detail of appli- 

 cation varies not inconsiderably, the general policy 

 regarding forest property of the State is the same 

 throughout the empire. Whatever of uniformity ex- 

 ists had to be secured mainly by persuasive means. 



The forest acts contain certain provisions regarding 

 formation of \'illage forests and control of private for- 

 est property, but no interference with private forest 

 property has been attempted, although in some parts 

 this is more important and larger than the State hold- 

 ings. Most of the owners merely exploit their prop- 

 erty, but some of the larger, more enlightened native 

 princes have established forest administrations, imitat- 

 ing the example of the Imperial government. Those of 

 Mysore and Kashmir and Hyderabad have placed this 



