82 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



nings. The remaining 70 per cent consists of mature trees. 

 Wherever regeneration is effected from self-sown seed, 

 the mature trees are gradually removed. Where planting 

 is resorted to, a clean sweep is made of all mature trees 

 over areas aggregating about 25 acres on an average. 

 Large clearings are considered a mistake, as it is difficult 

 to restock them. 



With regard to compulsory reforestation the following 

 may be said: Private forests must be planted up within 

 three years after the removal of a mature crop. Exemp- 

 tions from this rule may be granted, upon application, by 

 the State Forestry Bureau. Waste land planted up by 

 the owner is, once for all, exempted. If a forest owner 

 hesitates to replant his clearings within three years after 

 the cutting of the trees, he is subject to a fine. The for- 

 est authorities will replant the clearing at the owners' ex- 

 pense, the owner being allowed the choice of species. Any 

 treatment of forests likely to result in permanent unfit- 

 ness for the production of timber, is prohibited. 



Little damage is done, generally speaking, by forest 

 fires. On the average annually 54 fires are reported, run- 

 ning over 45 acres altogether, and resulting in an annual 

 loss of $533. In 28 cases out of 272 cases the forests were 

 so badly damaged that it was considered wise to cut the 

 trees and replant the area thus cleared. The principal 

 cause of forest fires is carelessness of smokers. A few 

 only of such fires are annually caused by railroad locomo- 

 tives, perhaps three annually. 



The rank of the forest officer corresponds entirely with 

 the rank of officials in other branches of the public ser- 

 vice. The average salary per year of the ' * Oberforstrat " 

 is $1,300, of the " Oberforstmeister " $1,125, of the 

 ' ' Oberf orster " $825, and the office and transportation ex- 

 penses of the last two named are $350 and $200 respect- 

 ively. No official report is published, either annually or 

 periodically. 



