158 FORESTRY IN ITALY. 



The trees composing the inahenable state forests are classified as follows : 



Per cent. 



Resinous trees 3' 



Oak - 2g 



Beech .' 25 



Chestnut , .■... I 



All others 14 



No information as to the character of the trees in other Italian forests is 

 attainable, but it is presumed that they do not greatly differ from those of the 

 inalienable forests. 



COMMON FORESTS. 



The forests belonging to the communes are what might be called common 

 forests, inasmuch as the population of the communes has in most cases the right 

 of pasturing animals and gathering wood in such forests, subject to certain 

 restrictions. Where pasturage is permitted the trees must have reached a 

 size which renders them safe against injury by the browsing and trampling of 

 cattle. The regulations for the protection of forests are enforced by the 

 forest guards. 



ADMINISTRATION OF FORESTS. 



The general supervision of forests belongs to a special bureau in the 

 ministry of agriculture, industry and commerce, called the regime forestale. 

 The bureau is one of three which are under the direction of the director- 

 general of agriculture. The immediate supervision of forests belongs to the 

 provincial forest committees. A provincial forest committee consists of the 

 prefect of the province, who acts as president ; of the forest inspector of the 

 province, or in his absence of a forestal sub-inspector; of an engineer, nomi- 

 nated by the minister of agriculture, industry and commerce, and of three 

 additional members, nominated by the provincial council. These three mem- 

 bers and the engineer hold office for two years, but may be renominated. 

 The council of each commune will appoint a member, who will take part 

 with the former in voting in such deliberations of the provincial forest com- 

 mittee as have reference to the commune which he represents. 



The provincial forest committees adopt regulations for the preservation 

 of forests, and decide upon requests for the reduction of forest areas into 

 cultivated lands. Their decisions and regulations are carried into effect by 

 forest inspectors and sub-inspectors (appointed by the ministry of agriculture, 

 industry and commerce), and the inspectors are assisted by the forest guards, 

 watchmen and custodians, who constitute the forestal police. 



FOREST REVENUES. 



No late statistics as to the revenues of the state forests and their cost of 

 maintenance are attainable, but I am informed by the regime forestale and 

 the ministryVf finance that the annual revenues from forests are about as 

 follows : 



Alienable forests * g 



Inalienable forests icfi'^i-, 



i5^» 3 



"^"'^^ 1^^ 



