CONSULAR REPORTS 



European Forestry. 



AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 



REPORT OF CONSUL-GENERAL JUSSEN. 



GOVERNMENT CONTROL. 



THE forest laws of Austria prescribe and control, not only the culture of 

 the forests belonging to the imperial domain, but also all woodlands 

 which are the property of municipalities, private corporations or private in- 

 dividuals, and are based upon the theory of paternal government 



If the law, as it stands, is enforced not a tree can be cut nor a load of dry 

 leaves gathered in a forest which is situated in Austria except in accordance 

 with certain rules and restrictions, and although there may be much in these 

 laws which may serve for framing future forestry legislation in the United 

 States, the greater portion of the enactment is in direct conflict with the 

 American idea of home government and property rights. 



The Austrian Empire is unusually rich in forest lands. There is no lack 

 of dense woods in any of its provinces except, in Dalmatia and in Istria and 

 in the territory near Trieste, and the culture of forest lands may be called ex- 

 emplary, especially in Bohemia, Moravia, Upper Austria, Silesia, and Salz- 

 burg. 



The yield of these vast forests, although it is said to be on the decline, 

 still far exceeding the home demand and large quantities of wood are ex- 

 ported. 



AREAS UNDER FORESTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. 



The latest statistics place the total area of the productive land of the Em- 

 pire at 28,406,530 hectares [one hectar equal to 1.74 joch, i joch=i.42 

 acres]; of these total numbers of hectares 9,227,061.20 hectares are forest 

 E. F. 2 I 



