' FORESTRY IN ITALY. 1 67 



In this province, since 1872, there have been 5,000 acres of land planted 

 over with bushes, and this is still being continued. 



The method used up to the present is as follows : Holes about two square 

 decimeters in size are made in the earth, in which two or three seeds are 

 planted. The seeds used must be according^ to the quality of the soil. 

 There is a forestal training institute at Vallambrosa, Italy, where botany, 

 physics, and mathematical measuring of the ground are taught; also the Italian, 

 French and German languages. The training is for three years. From this 

 institute under inspectors are chosen. To young men that have little prop- 

 erty of their own, and who have passed with great success the examination 

 for admission into this institute, the government allows half pension. 

 There have been districts which paid all the expenses to have young men 

 trained in this college. 



For a good many years back there have not been any forests destroyed in 

 this province. The damages suifered by the forests in former years, it is 

 believed, were caused by the cutting of the same and by excessive pasturage 

 where the forests were not sufficiently developed. Now these damages are 

 repaired by replanting said parts. 



The land not cultivated, but planted with bushes, is about 5,000 acres, 

 and at the present day this work is still going on. 



The forests of this province furnish a portion of the timber used in the 

 construction of buildings, also bark for tanning purposes. A portion is ex- 

 ported prepared for cart and wagon wheels, staves, hoops, poles, &c. 



There is no bounty on timber imported, but there is an import duty 

 levied on the same, viz.: Fifty centimes per 100 kilograms on fire-wood and 

 70 centimes per 100 kilograms on all other qualities. 



The names of the three reliable sellers of seed are as follows : Comizio 

 Agrario, Genoa; Professor Antonio Casabona, Genoa; Castagorola & 

 Figlio, Genoa. 



The forests of this district are all under the general laws for Italy, there 

 being no special forestal laws for this province. 



FREDERICO SCERNI, 



Vice-Consul. 



United States Consulate, 



Genoa, March 4, 1887. 



