FOREST POLICIES OF FOREIGN NATIONS. 



295 



law was enacted which released reforested areas 

 from taxes for 10 years, and under some condi- 

 tions for 25 years ; the effect seems to have been 

 mainly a moral and educational one. Since 1883 

 there has been in progress a work of recuperation 

 similar to the French reboisement work, in which, 

 up to 1894, nearly ^1,500,000 had been spent, the 

 state contributing variously from 25 to 100 per 

 cent toward covering the expense, the state itself 

 having reforested over 200,000 acres of waste 

 lands. A fully organized forest department man- 

 ages the government forests, 2,500,000 acres, or 

 10 per cent of the total forest area, which are 

 gradually being increased by purchase. 



Nearly 2,000,000 acres are declared protection 

 forests, and the state exercises the right to ex- 

 propriate or place under supervision private prop- 

 erty for protective purposes. Lately (1898), for 

 the purpose of directing the government's policy 

 regarding the use of its soil resources, a Land- 

 wirthschaftrath (agricultural council), composed 

 of 75 members, has been instituted, consisting of 

 farmers, foresters, miners, and others. One higher 

 and several lower schools supported by the state 

 provide instruction. 



Austria's sister state, Hungary, also has a well- 

 established forest administration, and since 1879 

 has had a law providing for supervision of private 

 forest lands and for reforestation of waste lands, 

 with the assistance of the state. 



