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per centum of the said taxes, or so much of the said fifty per 

 centum as shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five cents per acre. 



Provided, That it shall be lawful for the owner or owners of the 

 said land, after the same has been so planted fof at least ten years, 

 to thin out and reduce the number of trees growing thereon to not 

 less than six hundred to the acre, so long as no portion of the said 

 land shall be absolutely cleared of the said trees; 



And provided also, That the benefits of this act shall not be 

 extended to nurserymen or others growing trees for sale for future 

 planting. 



Section 2. The owner or owners of forest or timber land in this 

 Commonwealth, which has been cleared of merchantable timber, 

 who shall, within one year after the said land has been so cleared, 

 have given notice to the commissioners of their respective counties 

 that the said land is to be maintained in timber, and who shall 

 maintain upon the said land young forest or timber trees in sound 

 condition, in number at least twelve hundred to the acre, shall, on 

 making due proof thereof be entitled to receive annually from the 

 commissioners of their respective counties the sums of money men- 

 tioned in th'e first section of this act: Provided, That the first 

 period of ten years shall be counted from the time that the said 

 land has been cleared of merchantable timber, and, that after the 

 said first period of ten years, the number of trees upon the said 

 land may be reduced as in the first section is provided. 



Section 3. Any person or persons who shall wilfully or carelessly 

 cut bark from, or otherwise cut, burn or injure any tree, plant, shrub 

 or sprout planted, growing or being on any land in this Common- 

 wealth, without the consent of the owner or owners thereof first 

 had, obtained, or who without such consent, shall kindle, or cause 

 to be kindled, a fire on any forest or timber land in this Common- 

 wealth, or who shall carry into or over any forest or timber land 

 any lighted candle, lamp or torch, or other fire, without having the 

 same secured in a lantern or other closed vessel, or who shall dis* 

 charge or set .off fireworks of any kind on said land or among the 

 trees thereon, or who shall wilfully or carelessly burn or fire upon 

 his or their own land, or that of others, any tree, brush, stubble or 

 other combustible material whereby fire shall be communicated to 

 the leaves, brush or timber upon any forest or timber lands belong- 

 ing to other parties, shall be subject to a penalty not exceeding 

 one hundred dollars for each offense committed, with costs of suit: 

 Provided, That if the defendant or defendants neglect or refuse to 

 pay at once the penalty imposed and co ! sts. or shall not enter suffi- 

 cient bail for the payment of the same within ten days, he or they 

 shall be committed to the common jail of said county for a period 

 of not less than one day for each dollar of the penalty imposed: 



