FORESTRY IN GERMANY. 49 



following head, "Forestal Legislation," was passed July 6, 1875. If the 

 same does not formally abandon thd principle of free action of forest owners 

 in the use of private forest property, yet it restricts the rights of the owner 

 as far as required to avert damage from other real estates in case the damages 

 surpass considerably the disadvantages arising from such restrictions. For 

 this purpose it has been considered admissible to provide by law not only for 

 the culture of forests, but also for other protective measures. They can be 

 taken upon the application either of one of the parties whose interests are 

 endangered or of the proper authorities in whose district the respective tracts 

 are situated. For the restrictions so provided for full compensation must be 

 borne by the party making the application. But up to the amount of value 

 of the damage to be averted the owners of the estates exposed to damages, 

 &c., have to contribute to the expenses for the removal of quicksand, and 

 also in cases where the soil is washed and sliding into steep ground. The 

 owners of real estates are liable to pay contribution up to the amount of 

 surplus of value which their estates gain by protective measures and grounds. 



FIXATION OF SEA DUNES 



cannot be demanded under the law ; but the same shall be applicable in 

 cases of reduced depth of rivers, of injurious action of the wind in open 

 tracts of land, and in the vicinity of the seas, provided such evils are caused 

 by the devastation of forests. 



The fixation of sea dunes is stated to be difficult and very expensive, 

 considering the insignificant yield of woods to be stocked on the tracts, and 

 the destitute condition of the inhabitants of the coasts. Forestal legislation 

 has therefore refrained from acceding to the question of fixing dunes. Inas- 

 much as thereby interests of navigation are concerned, the Prussian Minister 

 of Public Works assumes the task to fix the dunes nearest to the sea by grow- 

 ing some species of sand grass. 



The territory consisting of dunes around the Baltic coast embraces 32,659 

 hectares. It is intended to erect a girdle of forests of common firs and 

 mountain pines {pinus mountanus) to protect the surrounding fields against 

 quicksand. 



SANDY TRACTS OF THE INTERIOR LAND. 



Their fixation comes within the sphere of the Prussian Minister of Agricul- 

 ture and Forests. 



Prussia has about 37,448 hectares of such land, of which 28,635 hectares 

 have been denoted as dangerous to adjacent states. 



Legal measures have not as yet been taken to provide for remedies in that 

 respect. It is stated that a considerable part of these sandy tracts could be 

 fixed if it was rigidly forbidden, which recently has been done by mere 

 police regulations, to drive cattle upon them. 



FORESTAL LEGALIZATION IN PRUSSIA. 



The duty incumbent on the state to pfovide for the maintenance and 

 promotion of the welfare of all its citizens is to be regarded as a continuous 



E. F. 5 



