40 _ FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 



ment in Edo (in the middle of the 17th century) for the space 

 of three hundred years, a great deal of attention was paid with 

 considerable results to the adjustment of the forest adminis- 

 tration and to the protection of forests. In respect to the 

 method of exploitation, it may be observed that owing to 

 differences of conditions and usages in various clans it showed 

 corresponding variations, and on account of military consi- 

 derations, the exploitation of forests was conducted by the 

 conservative policy under the most rigorous legal provisions. 

 In those days, therefore, there was a distinction between the 

 forests to be exploited and those in which the felling of the 

 trees had been prohibited. At any rate, there was none that 

 was not subjected to more or less limitations. The felling 

 of important trees was prohibited even in such exploitable 

 forests which went under the names of " Mochi-yama," 

 " Shitate-yama," " Miyama " and " Gyorin " not to speak of 

 forests preserved for the protection of paddy fields, irrigation, 

 and those against the collapse of sand, against snow, winds, 

 waves, and those for attracting fish. In reference to other 

 trees, the freedom of felling was given. For instance, those 

 trees which were known as the " Five-trees " in Kiso, 

 TJuijopsis dolabrata S. ct Z. in Aomori, Cryptomeria japonica 

 Don. in Akita, the "Six-trees" in Kii, the "Seven-trees 11 in 

 Awa, and the "Three-trees" in Kumamoto belongeb to the 

 category of trees not to be cut down. These facts account for 

 the preservation of handsome forests in these districts. 



As results of the utmost efforts made towards the preser 

 vation of these forests, beautiful sylvan features were presented 

 which lasted, however, but temporarily. On the occasion of 



