104 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 
forest economy of the kingdom, and seeing that correspond- 
ing restrictions should be introduced into the management 
of the forests of the State, more especially in regard to the 
clearing of forest lands. 
A Committee was appointed in the year following 
to prepare and submit a scheme embracing measures 
which should be adopted to meet omissions in the then 
existing law, and deficiencies in the powers of those who 
were entrusted with the administration of the forests. 
This Committee, as stated, on 28th June 1856, submitted 
such a scheme for the management of the forests. In 
this it was proposed, amongst other measures, that the 
destruction of saplings should be placed in the same 
category as depredations, and that proprietors of forests, 
in making use of the same for their own benefit, should 
be prevented from laying waste the same by mismanage- 
ment and destructive operations, and authoritatively pro- 
hibited from making use of these forests otherwise than in 
accordance with what it was natural and legitimate to do 
with them as forests. 
The Finnish Commissioners state that at the date of 
their report, 25th March 1869, all that was thus designed 
had not been fully carried into effect, but that important 
legislative steps had been taken to secure that in certain 
districts a forest economy, founded on scientific principles, 
should be introduced into forests belonging to the Crown, 
and into woods attached to the residences of civil and 
military officials, and to ecclesiastical establishments ; and 
that forests belonging to the community in other ways 
should be placed under the superintendence of the service 
established for the protection of game, in accordance with 
the Royal letter of 21st June 1859, and the Regulations 
of 14th April 1824, And they go on to state that several 
presefiptive rights had been by special arrangement re- 
called or modified ; amongst others, Svedjande had put under 
restrictions only ground specially suited for agriculture was 
to be assigned for new settlements, and in the inspection or 
