286 FEATURES OF FRENCH NATIONAL FOREST ADMINISTRATION 



The cutting cycle is 16 years and the yield is based on number of trees. 

 It takes 12 years for the cork to reach a thickness of 0.9 inch, the ex- 

 ploitable size; it is worked on a cycle of two years. The forest is divided 

 for cork oak extraction in two divisions, each comprising three working 

 groups. The yield for each working group is calculated by dividing the 

 number of trees of salable size in the working group by 16. In each of 

 the six working groups there are also intermediate cuttings by area 

 which aim at thinning young stands which are too dense, removal of 

 damaged or dead timber and the freeing of promising clumps of cork 

 oak. In reality the selection system practiced in this forest is not a 

 theoretical selection of single trees but selection by groups. 



In addition to the maintenance of the forest houses, roads, trails, etc. 

 (the communications cost about $1,544 a year to maintain), the protec- 

 tion work takes first importance. This comprises a system of fire lines 

 33 to 98 feet in width along the boundaries, on the main ridges, and 

 along the main roads and trails. This system of fire lines covers 1,332 

 acres. The fire protection also includes complete brushing, with root 

 extraction, in the compartments where the trees are most susceptible 

 to fire. The fire lines are cleared every 4 years and the brush every 8 

 years. The fire lines cost $1.69 per acre to clear, and to grub the brush 

 costs $5.02 per acre. In addition there is a complete telephone system 

 connecting all the ranger stations with the lookout station on Mont-Vin- 

 aigre and with the forest assistant's office at Frejus. The expenses for 

 improvement work during the period from 1902 to 1911 were $10,586.44 

 per year, or an excess of more than $2,509 over the revenue. The per- 

 sonnel for this complete fire system includes two rangers without any 

 assigned district and seven guards. Besides, during 8 months of the 

 year, there are ten special guards for fire protection and for supervising 

 betterment work. During the four summer months these special guards 

 comprise a floating force to see that the law of 1893 is carried out. Of 

 the nineteen employees cited, eighteen are lodged within the forest in 

 eleven forest houses. The clearing of underbrush over large areas is 

 the feature of this intensive fire protection. It means that even expen- 

 sive and numerous fire lines cannot alone control fire under these danger- 

 ous conditions. Otherwise it is certain that the French would never 

 have gone to this unusual expense which has resulted in a deficit. 



"According to the rules for contractors issued for the twenty-third conservation 

 governing the work in the Toulon Inspection, there can be no subcontract. The con- 

 tractor cannot work intermittently, he must begin within 15 days of the contract award, 

 and the details must be in accordance with instructions and orders and must proceed 

 in logical sequence. 



"In addition, during the dry season from the first of June to the first of October, 

 he cannot stop for more than a month the work which is in the course of execution 





