METHODS OF FOREST POLICY. 263 



With the efficiency of the state organization in 

 protecting forest properties comes also the in- 

 creased ability of the private interest to help itself, 

 and finally the propositions for a forest fire insur- 

 ance on the principle of mutuality, such as have 

 been lately ventilated, especially in the Prussian 

 province of Hanover and in Saxony, may become 

 practicable. 



As we have seen in the chapter on silviculture, 

 there are, besides the fire danger, insect pests and 

 wind-storms to be feared, and hence they call for 

 measures of a police character. To insure against 

 excessive damage by insects, cooperation on the 

 part of private owners may be enforced, as is done 

 in most German states. To protect a neighboring 

 forest against windfalls, the removal of the adja- 

 cent forest growth is prevented in Austria, a rather 

 doubtful exercise of restrictive functions. 



Generally speaking, restrictions and supervision 

 of private forest industry have proved themselves 

 mostly undesirable and impracticable; their only 

 justification would appear when protection of 

 neighboring properties or of general communal 

 interests demonstrably require them. 



The mediaeval attempts at legislation which for- 

 estry reformers in the United States have made 

 or proposed, in their mistaken belief that the old 

 countries furnish a precedent, namely, restricting 

 private owners in the size of trees which they may 

 be allowed to cut, or requiring them to plant a 



