FORESTRY IN ITALY. I 95 



TITLE V. 



OF COMPOSITE WOODS. 



Art. 27. To prevent these from being converted into copses one hundred large timber 

 trees must be left to each hectare, vifhich can only be felled at their complete maturity, that is, 

 when the bud or germinal shoot begins to turn yellow, it must be the care of the owner to see 

 that in the periodical cuttings of the underwood there are always some trees of large timber 

 growth ready to take their places, and in those woods situated on a steep slope or in those 

 places where they are useful to prevent the diffusion of malaria, no large timber trees may be 

 cut down until their full maturity. The proprietor is at liberty to cut the underwood, that is 

 the stools from the bottom of the trunk, when he considers it to his interest, but not before 

 twelve full years, and then in the manner and at the season prescribed for coppices; and 

 when difficulties arise in the management of these woods the committee, with the consent of 

 the district officof'and the inspector, shall decide according to the circumstances of the case. 

 Art. 28. Feeding of animals and the placing of charcoal pits in the composite woods are 

 subject to the same rule as in coppices. For other operations the rules under their respective 

 headings must be observed according as the trees in question are coppice wood or large timber. 



TITLE VI. 

 OF PENALTIES. 



/Vrt. 2g. The breach of the above by-laws is punishable according to the provisions of the 

 forest law. 



.\rt. 30. The rate of interest to be reckoned for plants cut in contravention is, by article 

 44 of the general rules for the execution of the forest law, fixed at five per cent, both in table 

 C and table D annexed to the said act. 



PALERMO. 



REPORT OF CONSUL CARROLL. 



In the provinces comprising this district, viz. : Palermo, Girgenti and 

 Trapani, the forests an4 areas, or extent thereof, together with their real or 

 nominal proprietorships, are as follows : 



Acres. 



Palermo— Private 9.887>^ 



Government, or in part depending thereon 115,235 



Girgenti — Private 165 



Depending on government - I7>24S 



Trapani — Private 22,645 



Depending on government 4i9°° 



The forests in the province of Girgenti are in the neighborhood of a 

 town called Bivona, and nearly all are owned by the towns of Burgia and 

 Cammarata, which lie adjacent to Bivona. 



There are few or no data as to the number and extent of common forests, 

 but it is understood there are forests of this character, the wood and pasture 

 of which the people utilize, not as a privilege, but merely as a tolerance. 



