38 THE STATE IN RELATION TO FORESTRY. 



removing all obstacles to it, such as facilitating the construction 

 of means of communications, providing good laws for the protec- 

 tion of forest property, the commutation of forest rights, and 

 advances to planters at rates of interest equal to that at which 

 Government can borrow money. If that is not successful, the 

 State should acquire a sufficient area of forest to safeguard the 

 welfare of the State. At any rate, private forestry should be free 

 of State interference, whenever the State and communes possess 

 already a sufficient area for the purpose of guarding against an 

 emergency." 



In the United Kingdom the area of State forests is very small, 

 and there are, as yet, few communal and corporation forests, 

 while there is no interference with private forests except in the 

 case of settled estates. In the latter case, timber (which means 

 oak, ash and ehn) is under control, so as to prevent present holders 

 utilizing more than their proper share. The case of the United 

 Kingdom is exceptional, owing to its favourable position as regards 

 imports of timber and the available substitutes for firewood, 

 excepting always sudden emergencies. 



In continental countries conditions are less favourable. In 

 most cases the means of transport are less developed, and the 

 quantities of substitutes for wood smaller. There, the State is 

 called upon in many cases to interfere in the interest of the 

 common welfare. In Prussia, where the State and communal 

 forests amount to 51 per cent, of the total forest area, private 

 forests are free from supervision, but in most other German States 

 they are under a certain amount of control. They are also under 

 control in Austria, Hungary, France and Switzerland. They are 

 partially under control in Italy, Sweden and Demnark. These 

 remarks do not refer to " Protection Forests," which will be dealt 

 with below. 



The measures provided for the supervision of private forests 

 partly tend towards an increase in the quantity and quaUty of 

 forest produce, and partly guard against extravagance in the 

 consumption of such produce. They refer to : — 



(1) Prohibition to convert forests into fields or meadows, or to 



use them for other purposes, without permission. 



(2) Compulsory afforestation of certain lands. 



(3) Prohibition of devastating existing forests. 



