l6o FORESTRY IN ITALY. 



7. Elements of physics, including properties of matter, light, heat, electricity and meteor- 

 ology. 



8. Elements of chemistry, including nomenclature, simple and compound bodies, analysis 

 and synthesis. 



Candidates for admission to the two years' course are examined in — 



1. Italian language and hterature. 



2. French. 



3. German. 



4. Natural history. 



5. Algebra, plain trigonometry and analytical geometry. 



6. Physics and chemistry. 



7. Elements of agriculture, 



Three unmarried forest guards, who have received honorable mention, can 

 be annually admitted to examination for admission to the forest institute. 

 The course of study includes — 



1. Language of literature of Italy, France and Germany. 



2. Physics, chemistry, geognosy and agriculture, and their application to forestry. 



3. Botany and zoology. 



4. Forest economics, including mechanics, hydrostatics, strength of materials, culture and 

 regulation of forests. 



5. Topography and surveying, including drawing and all matters relating to mensuration 

 and valuation of forests. 



6. Legislation, including in addition to forest laws, the principles of law generally. 

 Pupils are furnished with a uniform at the cost of ^38.60. Tljey must 



pass an examination at the end of the first and second year and a general 

 examination at the end of the third year. Those who pass successfully are 

 appointed sub-inspectors when vacancies occur, and until such vacancies 

 occur, serve in the forest guard with the rank of brigadier. 



DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS. 



The destruction of forests in Italy has been due to the demand for lumber 

 and firewood and for pasturage and arable land. Forest fires are rare and 

 comparatively little destruction is caused by them. The usual results have 

 followed forest destruction, such as the decrease in the depth of navigable 

 streams, the conversion of perennial streams into torrents, dry in summer and 

 overflowing in the rainy season, avalanches, landslides and freshets and the 

 denudation of mountains. 



SAND DUNES. 



The government is at present occupied in the effort to prevent the drifting 

 of sand dunes by planting them with trees. No extensive efforts to reclaim 

 waste places by planting trees have yet been made, but the government pro- 

 poses to plant forests on the slopes of denuded hills and mountains in order 

 to prevent the sudden overflowing of torrents. 



FOREST PRODUCTS AND TIMBER TRADE. 



Italy produces annually about 243,990,550 cubic feet of lumber, by which 

 term is meant logs and large pieces of lumber roughly squared. Planks and 



