Conditions in Hungary. 165 
against the Turks. The planting of forests for defense 
was ordered (1743) by Maria Theresa, but this order 
was probably never executed. 
About this time, however, movements of reform in 
various directions are noticeable. About 1750 complete 
working plans were made for the Kremnitz forest and in 
1763 for the Schemnitz forest. The forest ordinances of 
1770 and 1781 and the law of 1791 attempted to regulate 
the use of communal forests and ordered the reservation 
of devastated forest areas. Other legislation followed in 
1807 designed to arrest the further extension of shifting 
sands. 
Although since 1809 forest inspectors had been em- 
ployed to look after the execution of the forest laws, mis- 
management and forest destruction by promiscuous cut- 
ting, pasture and fire remained the rule and with the 
advent of the railroads in 1850 increased apace. 
Political troubles prevented any attempts at im- 
provement until in 1867 comparative peace and the new 
régime had arrived, and finally in 1879 it became possible 
to pass a reform law, which is the basis of present con- 
ditions. 
At present, of the 23 million acres of forest the State 
owns 16%, corporations somewhat over 20%, churches, 
cloisters and other institutes 7.5% and the balance is 
owned privately. Of the private properties the majority 
consists of large holdings and about ten per cent are 
entailed, a hopeful condition for conservative manage- 
ment. Yet with an export of 10 to 12 million dollars or 
more, exploitation would appear still to be general, and 
devastated areas abound. It is claimed that half the 
area is under working plans and that the 1000 million 
