MANUAL LABOUR. 177 



be given away to right-holders, in cases where only inferior 

 material is in question and there is no fear of the right-holders 

 defrauding the forest owner by taking too much produce, it is 

 also better to allow them to fell and convert the trees. In 

 forests belonging to poor communes, or villages, it may be 

 more economical for the villagers to work-out the timber for 

 themselves. 



In all these cases restrictions for the benefit of the forest 

 must be imposed on the woodcutters, just as if they were 

 directly under the control of the forest owner. 



It is evident that only by the employment of woodcutters 

 engaged and paid by himself can the forest owner maintain a 

 satisfactory and permanent labour-force, and this he should 

 always endeavour to secure. Such an object, however, is not 

 always attainable, and though occasionally it may be easily 

 secured, it is sometimes very difficult to do so. This depends 

 on local circumstances, and especially on the superiluity or want 

 of labourers, the duration of work in the forests, and the con- 

 ditions of employment offered to the labourers by the forest 

 owner. 



The Demand for Forest Labour fluctuates with the season of 

 the year. Owing to increased production of wealth, to modern 

 laws regulating industry, and to the rapidly improving means 

 of transport, the conditions of labour have altered considerably 

 during the last twenty years, and forestry has not remained 

 unaffected. The woodman who formerly remained attached 

 to his hamlet has freed himself from his fetters ; he leaves 

 field and forest, and proceeds to the centres of industry and 

 manufacture, where he hopes to get a better price for his 

 labour, to lead a pleasanter life than in his lonely forest village, 

 and to acquire property more rapidly. A few years ago, owing 

 to this migration of the villagers, the scarcity of labour in 

 certain forest districts had become calamitous. The crisis, 

 however, did not last long, and at present, many woodmen have 

 returned to their former pursuits. 



The Duration of Work in the Forest depends on the local extent 

 of the forest area, and the degree of intensity of forest manage- 

 ment. Whenever there is always full employment throughout 

 the year in an extensive forest district, the inhabitants are 

 VOL. v. N 



