FORESTRY IN ITALY. 1 59 



The revenues are cleared mainly from the sale of wood for building, fuel 

 and charcoal making, and from rents of pastures and buildings. 



The approximate expense of maintenance of the alienable and inaliena- 

 ble forests, including laying out of new roads, building and repair of bridges, 

 &c., is about 1510,285, of which the government pays about ;gi65,6oo and 

 the provinces and communes about ^344,685. 



The cost of maintaining the forests is therefore in excess of the revenues. 

 It must not be forgotten, however, that the constant sales of alienable forests 

 render it impossible to give any trustworthy figures in regard to the annual 

 revenues and costs of forests ; and the only definite statement that can be 



made in the premises is that the forests cost more than they yield. 



« 



FOREST PLANTING AND FORESTRY SCHOOLS. 



For the most part the forests are left to perpetuate themselves by natural 

 growth. The regime forcstale, however, cultivates shoots and seeds, which 

 are gratuitously distributed. The average annual number of these shoots is 

 about one million, and the average annual quantity of seeds distributed is 

 about 4,408 pounds. The state also contributes about ^23,000 for replanting 

 forests, but pays no direct bounties. There is a government forest school, 

 the "Institute Forestale," at Vallambrosa, Tuscany. 



This institute is under the direction of the ministry of agriculture, indus- 

 try and commerce, which appoints the director and professors. 



The pupils are either "ordinary" or "extraordinary" pupils. The 

 former are expected to enter and remain in the service of the governmept in 

 connection with forestry. The latter attend the institute merely in order to 

 pursue, for their own benefit, studies relating to forestry. 



The candidate for admission as an ordinary pupil must present a certificate 

 that he is not less than 16 nor more than 22 years of age; that he is in good 

 health, and of good character. He must also furnish a bond guaranteeing 

 the payment of ^135.10 annually; for three years, or deposit with the pre- 

 fecture of the province ^135.10, interest on which deposit will , be paid to 

 him in case he is admitted. 



The extraordinary pupils are admitted on the same conditions, with the 

 exception that they may be of any age above 16. 



The course of instruction lasts for three years in the case of pupils who 

 have not studied surveying and agriculture in a technical school. For those 

 who have so studied, the course lasts two years. 



Candidates for admission to the three years' course must pass an examina- 

 tion, partly oral and partly in writing, viz.: 



1. The Italian langui^e, including grammar and syntax. 



2. The French language, including rules of pronunciation, grammar, syntax and transla- 

 tion from French into Italian. 



3. Elements of geography. 



4. Elements of natural history, including botany, zoology and mineralogy. 



5. Arithmetic, including cube root and theory of proportion. 



6. Algebra, including equations of two unknown quantities. 



