FORESTRY IN GERMANY. 5 1 



climate, temperature, protection, conservation of soil, &c., hence to the 

 civilization and culture of the vifhole country. The forest is of importance 

 not only in the present time and for the proprietor alone, but it has a great 

 bearing also upon the future and the whole population. 



"Only indolence and selfishness can ignore such irrefutable truth. 



"To proceed against both, if they become a danger to the common- 

 wealth, and this they are already to a high degree, is a duty of legislation. 



"Not the diminution of wood production; not the laying of obstacles in 

 the way of supplying the wants of wood-workers, &c. ; not the rise of wood 

 prices ; nor the fear of scarcity of wood, would authorize the state to encroach 

 upon the liberty of owners of private forests and of private forest culture. 

 But the state is obliged to do so, considering the disadvantages which accrue 

 from the devastation of forests in certain situations and localities to the well- 

 being and existence of certain districts and its inhabitants." 



A step to stock waste lands with forests was taken in Prussia by passing 

 the act of August 14, 1876. Under this act the communities are, under 

 certain conditions, held to grow wood on such of their uncultivated lands as 

 are not suitable for permanent agricultural or industrial purposes. In these 

 cases the state contributes partly funds to assist poorer communities. 



THE PRESERVATION OF EXISTING FORESTS 



was also an object of legislation, as already stated above. Section four of 

 the so-called forest protective act of July 6, 1875, contained a provision 

 which made partition of joint possessions in forests difficult, such partition 

 mostly causing a total ruin of the woods. 



The act of March 14, 1881, good for entire Prussia, relating to joint pos- 

 sessions in forests forming a continuity of woods and clearings, places them 

 under the control of the state, and admits a partition only if woods are not 

 fit for a forestal cultivation, or if ground and soil can be permanently utilized 

 for other than forestal purposes at a greater advantage. 



Forests belonging to communities and public institutions, such as par- 

 ishes, churches, schools, hospitals and other charitable institutions are like- 

 wise under the supervision of the state, though the extent of such power 

 varies in the different parts of Prussia. A uniformity exists, however, in regard 

 to the employment of forestal officers for them in places which do not 

 require a higher qualification than that of a royal forester. 



SOURCES OF LUMBER SUPPLY. 



Prussia alone derived from State forests a revenue of 28,891,409 marks for 

 lumber within the fiscal year ending March 31, 1886. 



The total quantity of lumber imported into Germany for consumption 

 (special commerce) amounted, in 1885, to 26,231,675 loo-kilograms (=2.2 

 centners). 



Lumber exported from Germany, 5,286,988 loo-kilograms. 



