KEBOISEMENT IN- FRANCE. 339 



had for expropriation, on the ground of public utility, observing the formalities pre- 

 scribed by Title II and following, of the law of May 3, 1841. The proprietor expropri- 

 ated in the execution of this article, has the right to regain possession of his property 

 after reboisement, subject to payment of charges for expropriation, the cost of labors 

 in principal and interest. He may relieve himself of the price of the labors by relinquish- 

 ing half of the property. If the proprietor wishes to obtain repossession, he should 

 make a declaration to the subprefect within five years after notice that the work of 

 reboisement has been finished under penalty of forfeiture of this right. 



8. If the communes or public bodies refuse to execute these labors upon their lands, 

 or if they are unable to do it, the State may acquire either by amicably obtaining a 

 part of tiie lands which they will not or cannot replant, or by assuming sole charge of 

 the work. In the latter case, it will retain the care and use of the lands until it is 

 reimbursed its advances, in principal and interest. Nevertheless the commune shall 

 enjoy the right of pasturage on the lands replanted as soon as it is found beyoud risk 

 of injury. 



9. Communes and public bodies may in all cases exonerate themselves from repay- 

 ment to the State, by relinquishing one-half of tbe replanted lands. This abaudoumeut 

 should be made under penalty of loss of right of doing so, within ten years from notice 

 of the completion of the works. 



10. The sowing or planting cannot be made on more than a twentieth in one year of 

 the surface to be planted, unless a resolution of the municipal council authorizes it to 

 be done to a greater extent. 



11. Forest-guards of the State may be appointed for the care of the sowing or plant- 

 ing done within the boundaries fixed by imperial decrees. Injuries proved by these 

 guards, within the extent of these limits, shall be prosecuted in the same manner as 

 if .done in woods subject to forest regulation. The execution of sentence is to be in 

 accordance with articles 209, 211, and 212, und paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 210 of the 

 Forest Code. 



12. Paragraph 1 of article 224 of the Forest Code is not applicable to reboisement 

 done with aid or premiums from the State, in execution of thepreseiit law. The own- 

 ers of lands replanted with aid or premiums of the Stato may not pasture their cattle 

 ■without special license from the forest administration, until the time when such woods 

 shall be recognized by said administration as sufficiently protected. 



13. A regulation of the public administration shall determine (1) the measures to be 

 taken for fixing the boundaries indicated iu article 5 of the present law ; (2) the rules 

 to be observed in preservation of works of reboisement : (3) the mode of determining 

 the advances made by the State, and the measures proper for assuring repayment 

 of principal and interest, and the rules to be followed in the relinquishment of lands 

 which article 9 allows conmmnes to make to the State. 



14. The sum of 10,000,000 francs is appropriated for paying the expenses authorized 

 l5y the present law, to the extent of 1,000,000 a year. The minister of finances is au- 

 thorized to sell, with right of clearing, if necessary, woods belonging to the State, to 

 the value of 5,000,000 francs. 



These woods may only be taken from such as are entered in Table B, appended to this 

 law. The sales shall be done in succession, within ten j-ears from January 1, 1861. 

 The minister of finances is likewise authorized to sell to communes, upon approved 

 valuation, and on conditions fixed by a rule of the piiblic administration, the woods 

 hereinabove mentioned. The 5,000,000 francs needed to complete the expenses author- 

 ized by the present law shall be provided by means of extraordinary cuttings, and, if 

 necessary, from the ordinary resources of the budget. 



A law was enacted the same day, providing for improving the com- 

 mons by aid from State in the way of drainage and the like, so as to 

 bring them under agricultural or forestal improvement. A circular was 

 also issued for carrying the law of reboisement into effect, and afterward, 

 from time to time, other regulations as occasion arose. 



On the 8th of June, 18G4, a law was passed for the sodding (gazoimement) 

 of mountains, as a concession to the inhabitants of mountain-regions, 

 whose chief interests had formerly been involved in pasturage, and who 

 could not see the worlds of reboisement undertaken without serious 

 apprehensions of ruin to these interests. 



In putting these measures into effect, and to gather all the results of 

 experience possible on a new subject involving many interests, the happy 

 thought was conceived of calling annual conferences of the ageuts in- 

 trusted with these labors, to be held three days or so at a time, at con- 

 venient points, for the discussion of questions relating to this enterprise. 

 The first of these meetings was held December 9, 10, 11, 1861, at Talence, 



