338 REBOISEMENT IN FRANCE. 



(likes, and dams of various descriptions, absorbing-reservoirs, lateral 

 canals, artificial basins, horizontal ditches, and other remedies, all had 

 their advocates; but while some of these were necessarily made a part 

 of the preliminary labors and are still important in their way, a philo- 

 sophical train of argument finally led to the true theory of arresting 

 the rains before they had begun to do damage. 



French code of Behoisement of mountains, July 28, 18G0. 



Article I. Subventions may be allowed to communes and public bodies, or to indi- 

 viduals for replanting lands on the tops or slopes of mountains. 



2. These aids may consist either in the delivery of seeds, or plants, or in premiums 

 in money. In those given by reason of the work done for the general good, and in 

 cases of commuues and public bodies, regard is to be had to their resources, and the 

 sacrifices they must make, and to their need, as also to the sums given by general coun- 

 cils for reboisement. 



3. Premiums in money given to individuals cannot be paid until after the work is 

 done. 



4. In cases where the public interests demand that works of reboisement should be 

 made obligatory, either on account of the condition of the soil, and the dangers that 

 may happen to the lands below, proceedings are to be bad as follows : 



5. An imperial decree, issued in council of state, declares the public utility of the 

 works, fixes the boundaries of land in which it is necessary to execute the reforesting, 

 and the time within which it must be done. This decree is preceded (1) by an open 

 inquiry in each of the communes interested ; (2) by a deliberation in the municipal 

 councils of these communes, in conjunction with those most important; (3) the advice 

 of a npecial commission, composed of the prefect of the department or his delegate, a 

 member of the general council, a member of the council of arroudissement, an engineer 

 of bridges and roads or of mines, a forest-agent, and two landholders of the commune 

 interested ; (4) the advice of the council of the arroudisscment, and that of the general 

 council. 



Tha procis-verlal specifying the lands, the plan of the places, and the project of the 

 works, prepared by the forest administration, with the concurreuce of an engineer of 

 bridges and roads or of mines, are to be deposited in the office of the mayor during the 

 inquiry, the duration of which is one month, beginning with the publication of the 

 prefectoral order, which prescribes the opening of the inquest, and the meeting of th^ 

 municipal council. 



6. The imperial decree is to be published and posted up in the communes interested. 

 The prefect is also to notify the communes and public bodies, as well as individuals, 

 by an extract of the imperial decree, concerning the indications relating to the lands 

 belonging to them. The act of notification shall show the limit of time allowed for the 

 work of reboisement, and if there is occasion, the olJer of aid from the administration 

 on the advances it is disposed to make. 



7. If the lands included within the limits fixed by the imperial decree belong to indi- 

 viduals, the latter aie to declare whether they will undertake to do the replanting 

 themselves ; and, if so, they are to be held to execute the work within the time fixed 

 by the decree. In case they refuse or fail to perform agreement, proceedings may bo 



,iu France, than in those now ha<l in this and other countries upon questions of public 

 economy that are arising, especially with regard to the effects from clearing. But in 

 these it is to be hoped they will lead to one conclusion : that every owner of land should 

 {/row Jii8 oicn wood. This cannot be begun too soon, and cannot well be done too far, 

 ibr £i market will always be found for surjilus products near home. It may in fact be 

 said to emlKjdy the American Code of Forestry, implying, of course, an intelligent un- 

 derstanding of best methods and an ambition to gain the best resubs. 



The reasoning of those who opposed the measures for reboisement in France was at 

 .least often amusing. While some writers were promising that their measures would 

 prevent all inundations, invite rains, protect against dangerous winds, suppress 

 malaria, insure salubrity, and guarantee against foreign invasions by aftbrding means 

 for obstruction, others inquired, " Were there ever heavier inundations than when 

 ancient Gaul' was covered with forests? Did not the rivers remain frozen all winter, 

 and <io you wish to bring back these temperatures ? What benefits should we gain 

 from a Siberian climate ? Are there now fewer marshes^than when their drainage was 

 obstructed by forests ? Did this constant humidity bring permanent insalubrity; and 

 finally what policy can be justified, that gives prefereuce to the oak before grain, and 

 that would compel us, by restoring the condition of our ancestors, to seek our living 

 in the woods?" The golden mean in this as in all things, lies between the extremes, 

 and is founded upon reasons justified by fair induction from conceded facts. 



