Forest Laws. 293 
eral reboisement act of 1888,* which has in view the 
correction of torrents—one of the best laws of its kind 
in existence anywhere. 
The principal features of the law are: obligatory 
reboisement of mountains and sand dunes according to 
plans, and under direction of the Department of Agri- 
culture, the areas to be designated by the department, 
with approval or disapproval of the forest committees ; 
contribution to the extent of two-fifths (finally raised 
to two-thirds) of the expense by the government; ex- 
propriation where owners do not consent, or fail to 
carry out the work as planned; right to reclaim 
property by payment of costs and interest, or else sale 
by government;-right of the department to regulate 
and restrict pasture, but compensation to be paid to 
restricted owners; encouragement of co-operative 
planters’ associations. 
The execution of the law was not any stricter than 
before. In 1900, the Secretary of Agriculture reports 
that “the laws do not yet receive effective application.” 
The difficulty of determining what is and what is not 
necessary to reforest, what is and what is not absolute 
forest soil made ostensibly the greatest trouble and 
occasioned delay, but financial incapacity, and political 
influences bidding for popularity are probably the main 
cause of the inefficiency. 
Meanwhile the forest department tried from its 
scanty appropriation to promote reforestation by giving 
premiums and distributing from its 130 acres of 
nurseries during the years from 1867 to 1899 some 46 
*For details see Fernow, in Garden and Forest, 1888, page 417. 
