RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND. 453 



against lire. Accordingly the Credit Foncicr, which linances 

 so much land in its own country, feels justified in making 

 advances on forest — so far as such are admissible at all — 

 only to the extent of one-third of the ascertained value, 

 whereas in respect of other land it draws the line at one- 

 half. Accordingly French landowners are now, as already 

 mentioned, agitating for a State-endowed or State- 

 guaranteed Credit for estier, to match the Credit agricole which 

 is so much in request. A Bill is now before Parliament 

 proposing that the Constitution of the Credit fonder shall 

 be amended to such an extent as to permit advances on 

 forest, the State giving a guarantee in respect of approved 

 schemes. The clamour for some measure of this kind is 

 now so great and so widespread that it may be taken for 

 granted that something of the kind will be sanctioned. 



In Germany similar credit — for land, including forest- — 

 is granted in a different way. The German landschaft, 

 having a lien upon property by reason of money advanced 

 on mortgage, inspects that property from time to time, 

 in order to make sure that its value remains unimpaired— 

 in this case by good forestry — and that no more than the 

 proper allowance of timber is cut. Our landowners, who 

 are the greatest stumbling-block in this matter, as not 

 caring to improve their forestry for the benefit of a coming 

 generation, in only too many cases either have not, or else 

 grudge the money required for putting their forest land in 

 proper condition. They might— many of them no doubt 

 would- — be found perfecth^ willing to plant according to 

 rule, if the money required, or a substantial part of it, could 

 be raised in the shape of a mortgage or improvement loan, 

 which it would be in the interest of the State as guardian 

 of the national interest to make, provided that it could 

 secure itself financially against loss, and ensure that in return 

 good forestry, which would have to be under its own super- 

 vision, would be practised. The question of insurance ought 

 to occasion no difficulty among ourselves. There are several 

 ways of providing for it. In Finland, so far as the Savings 

 Banks make the advances, in imitation of what is done in 

 Germany, the owner of the forest pledges the growing 



