166 LEQIBLATION ON TORBDNTS. 



Bubmit it to the Emperor the order to be issued, the Council of State having 

 been heard on the question of the public utility of the works. It is of 

 importance then that the work be prepared with due care, and contain suffi- 

 cient indications, that in passing through this long process of examination no 

 considerable element of defect may appear. 



" I cannot prescribe any determined form to be followed in these docu- 

 ments, the instructions which would be necessary would vary with the 

 special circumstances of each country. 



" It would be, besides, premature to lay down at the outset of an operation 

 regulations so important, which experience had given no opportunity of 

 ratifying. I leave to the agents to consider, under your direction and 

 in concert with the engineers, what may be the most convenient manner of 

 presenting the different elements of the work. I consider, however, that I 

 ought to address to you on this subject some general observations. 



" I have stated to you above the considerations in accordance with which 

 ought to be carried out the inspection of the lands which it is necessary to 

 cover with vegetation, to accomplish the object of the law on the reboise- 

 ment of the mountains. Amongst these lands, doubtless, many, through 

 their state of complete denudation, cannot be converted immediately into 

 what can properly be called woods. The agents ought to make known by 

 what preparation, be it by putting them totally or partially under enclosure 

 for a time more or less prolonged, or be it that by the natural or artificial 

 production of vegetation of any inferior kind, they may be rendered fit for 

 the reception of seeds or of plantations. This indispensable preparation 

 comes directly within the range of the works of rehoisement. 



" There are also lands which by reason of their situation appear naturally 

 destined for use as pasturage. The conversion of these lands into woods 

 would be of no utility, as preserved in the condition of pasturage they ren- 

 der to the inhabitants the least expensive and best services possible in what 

 therein concerns the general interest, and the maintenance of these 

 pasturages in good condition suffices in many cases to retain the water, and 

 the land. The scheme of operation ought then to divide the lands into 

 three classes, namely, — (1) Those in which we may proceed immediately to 

 direct works of reboisement ; (2) those in which these works ought to be 

 preceded by a natural or artificial preparation ; (3) in fine, those which ought 

 to be left free for the growth of pasturage, subject to appropriate regula- 

 tions. The two first classes alone are subject to the application of the law 

 of 28th July 1860, on reboisement. 



" It will suffice to indicate in regard to lands of the third category, the 

 regulations to which it would be well to subject the exercise of pasturage. 



" In relation to the subvention which might be offered to each proprietor 

 for the execution of the works within the prescribed limits required by 

 public utility, you have only to take into account the resources of the 

 parties interested, their requirements, the sacrifices which they are disposed 

 to make, and the amount of the sums allocated by the General Council. 



" Article 10, of 28th July 1860, bears, ' that the sowings or plantations 

 cannot be made annually in each commune over more than the twentieth 

 part at most of the area of these lands, unless a decision of the Municipal 

 Council authorise works over a more considerable extent.' 



" When an area surveyed comprises more than the twentieth of the lands 

 belonging to a commune, if this commune refuse to allow the e xecution of 

 works over a more extended area, it will be well to select and i udicate the 



