BXPOS^ DBS MOTIFS OP LAW OF 8tH JUNE 1864. 209 



twenty years ; but in awaiting this how were they to support the flocks, 

 which supplied their only income? 'The operation,' cried they, 'is a 

 flagrant injustice ; they are ruining the mountains in order to enrich the 

 plains.' 



" The Administration saw that there was some foundation for this com- 

 plaint, and they resolved to do what was right in the case ; but the 

 law spoke only of reboisement — their powers, and the funds placed at 

 their disposal, related only to this ; and something must be done to meet 

 the case. 



" It was thought at first that this might be efi'eoted by the law, Sur la 

 mise en valeur des Hens communaux, for the improvement of communal pro- 

 perties. The greater part of the lands to be replanted being communal 

 lands, it was thought practicable to unite the two objects, and combine the 

 two funds for a common action, and a mixed commission was nominated by 

 the three ministerial departments interested ; but it was found that the two 

 laws which they sought to combine in joint action had two very difierent 

 objects : the law on reboisement had for its object to secure the public 

 safety, the other to promote the national wealth; the former acted on 

 decrees with credits and subventions, the second by prefectoral resolutions 

 granting simple advances ; by the first the Agents des Eaux et Forets were 

 charged with the reconstitution of communal property, to carry out the 

 second the officials of Les Fonts et Chaussees labour to convert communal 

 into national or personal property." 



The Mixed Commission soon reported its powerlessness, and the Govern- 

 ment had to follow up the law in regard to reboisement with one relative to 

 gazonnement. 



The following is a translation of the Fxposi des Motifs, which accompanied 

 the draft of this law, addressed to the councillors of State charged to support 

 it before the Corps Legislatif : — 



" Gentlemen, — When the law of the 28th July 1860, on the reboise' 

 ment of the mountains, was submitted to the consideration of the Corps 

 Legislatif, the honourable reporter, in the name of your commission, expressed 

 himself in these words : — 



" ' It may be well, then, to recognise the fact that the deboisement, or 

 destruction of woods on our mountains, is not the only cause, or even the 

 principal cause, of the disasters produced by the ravages of the waters. 

 Along with this, as still more hurtful, must be classed as a disturbing 

 cause degazonnement, or the destruction of herbage. 



" ' In like manner, reboisement alone is not enough to remedy these evils. 

 It would be impossible to replant with trees all the bare mountains, on 

 account of the great expense. It would also be useless, as keeping up the 

 turf is a sufficient preservative, the benefit of which has been proved by 

 experience. It would also be difficult, looking at it from the stand-point of 

 the wealth of the country, as it would substitute comparatively profitless 

 forests for the magnificent pasturage, the destruction of which would ruin the 

 population of the mountains. 



"'But it is not the less true that, in conjunction with gazonnement, 

 reboisement will have a most happy effect. 



" ' The present law will only produce all the good effects which may be 

 expected when it shall be supplemented by gazonnement. 



2a 



