FORESTRY COMMISSIONER. 79 



crop. The latter must chiefly be regarded as a result of 

 the present condition of the forests, which are being and 

 have been steadily improved; also of the economy which 

 was practiced in former times. Where reforesting is ef- 

 fected by seeding from the standing trees, the crop is 

 generally cut in lengthy strips, usually not exceeding 

 about thirty yards in width. As a general rule the ad- 

 ministration of the state forests makes it a principle to 

 avoid cutting in large blocks clean. In regard to com- 

 pulsory tree planting, it may be said that every forest 

 area, the trees of which have been cut, no matter whether 

 state or private property, must be reforested in a short 

 time, unless evidence can be furnished that the land would 

 be better adapted to agricultural purposes. 



The damage caused by forest fires is quite insignificant, 

 being in 1890 only 1974, in 1894 only $i, 686. The princi- 

 pal cause of such fires is the carelessness of the working- 

 men employed in the forests and of individuals and parties 

 making excursions, particularly on Sundays. There are no 

 data at hand as to the number of such fires caused by rail- 

 road locomotives, and although some fires are no doubt so 

 caused, the number is certainly very small. 



The administration of the Bavarian state forests consti- 

 tutes one of the departments of the ministry of finance. 

 It is directly subordinate and responsible to the latter, no 

 other authorities intervening. The highest forest official 

 who may be regarded as being at the head of the forest 

 administration, responsible, of course, as stated, to the 

 minister of finance, bears the title ' ' Ministerialrath, " 

 ministerial or cabinet councilor. The chief director of 

 the Bavarian administration of state forests is "Minis- 

 terialrath" Ganghofer. His starting salary is 7,740 

 marks. After a sixteen years' service the salary advances 

 to 8,820 marks. Next in rank are the so-called "Ober- 

 f orstrathe, ' ' with a starting salary of 6, 660 marks, which, 

 after a sixteen years' service, is increased to 7, 740 marks. 



