FOREST POLICIES OF FOREIGN NATIONS. 297 



forestation for reasons of public safety, only 22,000 

 were reforested in twenty years up to 1886, the 

 government contributing ^85,000 toward the cost. 



In the revised law of 1888, as a result of the 

 past experiences, an elaboration of the same plan 

 was attempted by creating further authority to 

 enforce action. It is now estimated that 534,000 

 acres need reforesting at a cost of ^12,000,000, of 

 which two-fifths is to be contributed by the state. 



Expropriation proceedings may be instituted 

 where owners refuse to reforest, with permission 

 to reclaim in five years by paying, with interest, 

 the cost of work incurred by the state. 



The latest addition to the inefficient means of 

 coping with the evil is an Arbor Day imported 

 from the United States. 



A forestry school at Vallombrosa furnishes all 

 needed opportunity to learn the necessary forestry 

 methods. 



Our little sister republic, Switzerland, has had a 

 long struggle during the first half of the nine- 

 teenth century to come to a rational forest poHcy, 

 although the damage done by its absence was 

 clearly enough seen. Only in 1898 has the fed- 

 eral government finally succeeded in becoming the 

 executor of the protective laws in all cantons. These 

 laws prohibit clearing in the high Alps without sanc- 

 tion by the federal authorities. With the assistance 

 of the bund reforesting is done where needed. A 

 forestry school in Zurich educates the staff. 



