Early History. 175 
est of Ziirich, the so-called Sihlwald in 1680-1697, and 
to this day this corporation property, with its intensive 
and most profitable management, is the pride of all 
Switzerland. The Bernese cantonal forests were first 
surveyed and placed under management from 1725 to 
1739 and fully regulated by 1765. 
An excellent forest code for Bale was drawn up in 1755 
by Bishop Joseph William; and in 1760 through the 
propaganda of the two scientific societies of Zurich and 
Bern, the teaching of forestry was begun, and forest or- 
ganization in the two cantons secured in 1773 and 1786. 
The canton of Soleure (Solothurn) was the first to start 
a regular system of instruction, two citizens from each 
woodland district being given the opportunity to qualify 
themselves as foresters. 
Each canton had, of course, its own laws protecting 
forest property against theft and fire; in the latter 
respect especially great care was exercised and burning 
of brush could only be done by permit and under a force 
of watchers. 
The example of Zurich and Bern in organizing the 
management of their forest areas was followed more or 
less by other cantons, but a real serious movement is not 
discernible until the beginning of the 18th century when 
with the impetus of modern life and trade the value of 
forest property increased, and most cantons issued regu- 
lative forest laws. 
Forest ordinances had from time to time attempted 
to prevent the decrease of forest area by forbidding 
clearings, regulating pasture, and forbidding wood ex- 
port to other villages or cantons, a local timber famine 
being dreaded. But only when a severe flood in 1830 
