308 ECONOMICS OF FORESTRY. 



This tendency, however, was checked when the 

 fallacy of the theory became apparent, especially 

 with reference to a property that demands con- 

 servative treatment and involves such time element 

 as we have seen. 



The hopes which were based on the success 

 of individual efforts were not realized, and al- 

 though control of private action had been retained 

 by the state authorities, this could not always be 

 exercised, and the necessity of strengthening the 

 state forest administration became apparent. The 

 present tendency, therefore, is not only to maintain 

 the state forests, but to extend their area by pur- 

 chase, mostly of devastated or deforested areas and 

 by exchange for agricultural lands from the public 

 domain. Thus, in Prussia, the increase of state 

 forest area has been at the rate of 14,000 acres per 

 year since 1867; during the decade 1 891 -1900 

 170,000 acres of waste lands were added at the 

 average cost of $10 per acre, and the budget of 

 1900 contained ^800,000 for that purpose. Bavaria 

 spent about ;^6,ooo,ooo in such purchases during 

 the last 50 years. 



In districts where small farmers own extensive 

 areas of barrens a consolidation is effected ; the 

 parcels of remaining forest and the barrens are 

 put together, the state acquires these and pays 

 the owners either in money or other property. 



In Prussia, during the decade 1882-1891, 30,000 

 acres were in this way exchanged for 17,000 acres. 



