188 TIMBBKS AND THEIE USES 



surveyed and subdivided into compartments for 

 securing a good system of working. Kegulations 

 were drawn up, but the forest service was im- 

 peded by the revolution of 1798 and the following 

 years. Scbemes for reforesting were set on foot. 



The condition of the mountain forests at this 

 period was deplorable. All over the country 

 extensive areas had been destroyed or greatly 

 damaged by unregulated felhngs, and the young 

 growth injured by the ravages of flocks and 

 herds. In 1834 great floods caused further 

 damage in the Alpine regions and forced the 

 people to devise methods to prevent a recurrence 

 of the inundations. These destructive floods 

 were largely caused by the felUng of the trees 

 on the mountains. The work of reafforestation 

 was taken up in earnest ; stringent forest laws 

 were passed, supervision was redoubled. The 

 Swiss Forestry Association was instituted in 

 1843, and a Forest School was founded at Zurich 

 in 1865. In 1876 the first general forest law 

 was adopted. 



All the Swiss laws require the same treatment 

 for State, communal and private forests ; in the 

 last named, however, supervision is less strict 

 than in the others. Owners may not reduce the 

 area of their timber land without the consent 

 of the cantons ; they must replant where there 

 is no natural growth and take care of the grow- 



