276 Mediterranean Peninsulas. 



inaugurated in 1892 by setting aside 2 per cent, of the 

 gross forest yield. But, ta the political struggles. 

 Carp's party was displaced, and, depression in agricul- 

 tural prosperity causing financial distress, an era of in- 

 creased exploitation followed, so that the export of forest 

 products (mainly to Greece, Italy and France) which 

 had been declining, rose agatu to about eight million 

 dollars annually. The financial embarrassment of the 

 State led even to a proposition to sell State forests, but, 

 before contracts for this purpose were consummated, re- 

 lief came and the danger was averted. 



The State cuts about 22,000 acres annually, yielding 

 about $1,000,000, the administration costLng(in 1903) 

 $240,000, leaving a net yield of 30 cents per acre. In 

 1898, the Forest Department, in the direction of 

 Domains under the Ministry of Agricidture consisted 

 of a Forest Director with 156 foresters academically 

 educated (mostly in France, and since 1892 in the 

 Agricultural Institute at Bucharest), and over 2,500 

 underforesters and guards. Of some 30,000 acres of 

 sand dunes, one-half belonging to the State, about 

 18,000 acres have been recovered by planting Black 

 Locust, and some 9,000 acres of plains country have been 

 reforested, for which 330 acres of nurseries furnish the 

 material. In spite of all these efforts excessive pasturing, 

 although forbidden in the State forest, and fires continue 

 to devastate the property. 



Private forestry is, of course, much less developed, yet 

 some laxge properties (Princess Schoenburg, with 

 20,000 acres) are under efficient German forest manage- 

 ment. Here money is spent on developing means of 

 transportation, and a better revenue is secured than in 

 the State forests. 



