182 LEGISLATION ON TOEBENTS. 



whether it would not be desirable to specify zones, beyond which aid shall 

 not be given for rehoisements facultatifs, excepting in special cases of con- 

 siderable extent, presenting an indisputable character of public utility, and 

 holding out in every way a probability of success. Within these zones the 

 work would be carried on under the superintendence of the pverseei's 

 actually employed in the vicinity, or of special overseers, the number of 

 which it will be necessary to determine. 

 " Opinions and Propositions of the Agents. 



" The members of the conference at Clermont were not altogether 

 agreed as to the circumstances in which the specifying of such zones should 

 be carried out. Some were of opinion that the measure, though unneces- 

 sary in regard to communal lands — for the reforesting of which the Admini- 

 stration is furnished with sufficient authority — would produce good efiects in 

 its application to private lands. Others have alleged, against the proposed 

 measure, the difficulty of its application. And the conference, withoiii pro- 

 nouncing finally upon the question, has expressed the opinion that the 

 creation of such zones might be considered a very useful measure ; but it 

 was remarked that the measure should not have the effect of binding agents, 

 or fettering tiieir personal action, so as to prevent this aid beiag given to 

 demands relating to lands situated out of the zones, when the reforesting 

 of these lands should present a marked character of public utility. 



" The agents of the conference at Foix expressed the opinion that it is 

 useless, and would be inconvenient, to establish zones for commimal 

 reforesting. 



" The members of the conference at Carpentras acknowledged that it is 

 indispensable, in order to the good use of subventions, that sanctioned 

 works of reforesting should be carried out by the Administration, and that 

 consequently it would be desirable to fix the zones. They think, however, 

 that the grounds are not yet sufficiently explored, nor the spirit of the 

 population sufficiently known, for this demarcation to be possible at present. 

 The agents were desirous also that, except in exceptional cases in sanctioned 

 works of reforesting, a minimum extent—say, for example, of 10 hectares- 

 should be specified for every one operation, whether on land belonging to 

 one proprietor or to more. 



" Remarks arul Insti-uctions of the Administration. 



" The Administration does not think proper to insist on the reboisements 



facultatifs. 

 " The work of rehoisement on the mountains is so recent that it is 

 deemed desirable still to allow every latitude in framing the 

 demands for aid. 

 " Every demand brought forwai-d will, as heretofore, be the object of a 

 special examination, without there being fixed a minimum of 

 operations. 

 " Only, the demands being for the most part called forth by the direct 

 intervention of the agents with the proprietors, the measures ought 

 to be directed as much as possible in such a way that the works 

 effected, or to be effected in the same region, should concur to a 

 common object. With these views it would not be possible to 

 estimate at present the number of persons whom it would be necessary 

 to appoint over the works. The creation of new employments of 

 the guard for reforesting will go on. The creation of new employ- 

 ments for those engaged as guards in connection with reboisement 



