268 FORESTRY IN FRANCE. 



FRANCE. 



NICE. 



REPORT OF CONSUL HATHEWAY. 



EVEN in the days of Charlemagne, and especially since the sixteenth 

 century, restrictive legislation has prevailed in France, to resist the 

 destruction of its woodlands. 



Their physical, economical and hygienic value have thus long been held 

 of serious importance, and successive systems have been constantly adopted 

 and applied for their management, improvement and preservation. 



A department of the government for the administration of its forestry 

 laws has its seat at Paris. The area under its jurisdiction in 1874 was com- 

 puted at 20,641,953 square acres. 



A bureau of said department is located at Nice, supervising the divisions 

 of the Maritime Alps and the Var. The iirst named, within which this 

 consulate is placed, contains of forests of the state 1,310 acres, of forests of 

 the several communities 117,250 acres, and 103,800 of those of private areas. 



All varieties of the arboreous vegetation of Europe are to be found in these 

 woodlands, but the olive, beech, larch, pine, fir, ash, oak and cork trees are 

 most conspicuous. The larger tracts are distant from inhabited centers and^ 

 destitute of roads of communication. 



No revenue accrues from the government lands except the sum of {1,158 

 annually as the rental of the chase in St. Margaret's Isle. 



The director-general at Nice has under his orders, for the district of Alpes 

 Maritimes, two inspectors, two sub-inspectors, four chief foresters and sixty 

 foresters and guards. For the conservation of the forests of Nice itself a 

 special commission is adjoined of two inspectors, one chief forester, one 

 sub-forester and iive foresters and guards. 



In the forests pertaining to the municipalities such parts as are undergoing 

 culture are placed under defense for the period of ten years, and in all por- 

 tions capable of enclosure pasturage only is permitted to oxen, cows and 

 horses, and but rarely to sheep. The inhabitants are allowed the fallen 

 wood, but may remove no other product without authorization. 



Nearly 49,425 acres, classed as private areas, are exclusively subject to 

 municipal control, and at the period of their annexation to France, in i860, 

 were adjudged incapable of improvement. These are under no restrictions 

 whatever, either as to felling or pasturage, and under such conditions are 

 becoming gradually more and more denuded, and all growth must thus, in 

 time, disappear. 



