Forest Acts. 335 
very near wrecking the whole enterprise, and much 
difference of opinion between the local and general 
governments existed, the government of Madras going 
so far as to declare the impossibility of establishing 
State property in view of the acknowledged rights of 
the villagers over waste lands. The general policy, 
however, finally prevailed, and an increasingly har- 
monious cooperation of the provincial governments has 
allowed the development of an efficient forest service. 
Various provincial legislation was considered, passed 
and repealed, until in 1878 the Indian Forest Act VII 
settled the policy at least for the majority of the prov- 
inces, Madras and Burma and some minor districts still 
declining to extend its provisions to their forests. The 
Burma government enacted, however, similar legislation 
in 1881, and the Madras government in 1882, and, 
much later, the other outstanding governments fol- 
lowed (1886 to 1891), so that, while the detail of appli- 
cation varies not inconsiderably, the general policy 
regarding forest property of the State is the same 
throughout the empire. Whatever of uniformity ex- 
ists had to be secured mainly by persuasive means. 
The forest acts contain certain provisions regarding 
formation of village forests and control of private for- 
est property, but no interference with private forest 
property has been attempted, although in some parts 
this is more important and larger than the State hold- 
ings. Most of the owners merely exploit their prop- 
erty, but some of the larger, more enlightened native 
princes have established forest administrations, imitat- 
ing the example of the Imperial government. Those of 
Mysore and Kashmir and Hyderabad have placed this 
