58 FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 



and for the Imperial forests in Hokkaido, the working 

 plans will be compiled for the space of 20 years beginning 

 with 1908 so as to complete all the arrangements connected 

 with the Imperial forests. 



Section VI. The Exploitation of the Public, 



and the Private FORESTS. 



Among the forests owned by private individuals, there 

 are some forests where the intensive work has prevailed 

 so that in the progress of the sylvicultural knowledge and 

 management, satisfactory arrangements were made so as to 

 afford a considerable sum of profits but the majority of the 

 forests under the public, and the private ownership, are con- 

 ducted on no rational basis. Subsequent to the Restoration, 

 the forests were so recklessly despoiled of their trees that they 

 seemed to be abandoned to nature, the result of which was 

 that the land was gradually ruined and impoverished. Owing 

 to the retention of the old custom of supplying green manure 

 igriculture, there is preserved a vast area of land without 

 trees growing on it. The exploitation of the private forests 

 has direct interests with the owners themselves so that but 

 few of these forests are left to run wild, and with the gradual 

 development of the ideas concerning forestry among the 

 people there is a tendency for the rational forest undertakings, 

 but the forests owned by the public bodies which are worked 

 by joint efforts under old. usages, are neglected both in respect 

 of the work and protection, so that efforts are being made in 

 various local provinces to effect the adjustment of these ruined 



