FORESTRY IN ITALY. 173 



LOMBARDY. 



REPORT OF CONSUL CROUCH. 



The presejit law governing the forests of Lombardy is that of June 20, 

 1877, in force throughout the kingdom of Italy, which abrogated the law of 

 1 81 1 in Lombardy and other local laws in different parts of Italy. It subjects 

 to its provisions, first, all wooded and unwooded lands on the tops and sides 

 of mountains above the uppermost limit of the chestnut tree (in Lombardy 

 from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the level of the sea) ; and, second, all lands 

 beneath this limit where the removal of trees and underbrush might cause 

 the earth to become loosened and thus give rise to landslides and similar 

 disturbances, or alter the course of streams, or change the condition and 

 coherence of the soil, or in any way affect unfavorably the local hygienic 

 conditions. Under class number one level or gently-sloping lands, particu- 

 larly adapted to agriculture, or already cultivated, or covered with vines, 

 olivetrees, or fruit-bearing plants of a similar nature, are exempted from the 

 provisions of the act. 



Such wood lands as do not belong to either of the above-mentioned 

 classes are not directly subject to governmental supervision. The proprietors, 

 however, must have regard for certain regulations established by the board of 

 forestry and approved by the minister of agriculture, the aim of which is to 

 maintain the proper consistence of the soil, where this is of importance (as, 

 for instance, on the banks of streams), and to effect the replanting of trees 

 and their preservation where this may be required by the local hygienic con- 

 ditions. 



FOREST AREAS. 



The extent of the forests in the different provinces of Lombardy, and 

 the division into the classes mentioned above, are exhibited in the following 

 tables. The unit employed is the acre, and the time, December 31, 1883, 

 since which date there have been no material changes : 



