Forest Conditions. 197 
ing to the possible yield, even in private forests and are 
surrounded by many other restrictions; the wood is cut 
and delivered by the forest agents, and the rights can be 
extinguished by exchange of territory. 
Thanks to the progress made in enforcing these rigor- 
ous laws, their necessity has almost vanished and at 
present relatively few infractions need to be investigated 
and punished. 
The unity of France as compared with the infinite 
divisions in the provinces of Germany, permitted natur- 
ally a more uniform and persistent administration of all 
laws and policies. Thus the provisions of the ordinances 
of 1669 and the organization of the forest service then 
inaugurated persisted without essential modifications 
until 182% (with the exception of an interregnum 
brought on by the revolution), and practically persists 
still, although changed in some details. 
8. Present Conditions and Administration. 
Of the 200,000 square miles of territory not quite 18 
per cent. is wooded, and, with a population of nearly 40 
million, only .6 of an acre per capita. In its present 
condition this area does not produce more than one- 
third of the home demand which requires an import in 
excess over export to the amount of about 25 million 
dollars annually on the average. 
Since in 1892 there were still over 15 million acres of 
waste land, opportunity for a larger forest area seems to 
exist, and the existing forest area is capable of much 
larger production than the present, which is hardly 40 
cubic feet per acre even in the better managed state and 
communal properties. 
