THE CULTIVATED FORESTS OF EUROPE. I99 



alone, but all forests. Hence many private forests are brought under government 

 management. It is considered that each generation has a right to the forest 

 products, but the forest itself must be left to the succeeding generation in as 

 good condition as it was found. In France no clearing is permitted in private 

 forests without the sanction of the government authorities. In Wiirtemberg, 

 Germany, clearing on private property is under state control. In Russia a 

 law provides for the control and management of the forests of individuals where 

 the public welfare seems to demand it, and the cutting down of such forests is 

 prohibited when it might endanger the best interests of the whole community. 



It will be a long time before this tenet will be accepted in America. In this 

 country, at least in New York State, it seems to be the policy of the State to 

 permit wholesale destruction of private forests and to deny to the people forever 

 the use of the products of the State forest. There is a clause in the Constitution 

 of the State of New York which forbids the removal of timber, dead or alive, 

 from State lands. It reads thus: "The lands of the State, now owned or 

 hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall 

 be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold, or exchanged, 

 or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be 

 sold, removed or destroyed." 



Since the people of New York are denied the use of the wood on State land, 

 it is of prime importance that the culture of forests on private land should be 

 encouraged. Since the State is to depend wholly upon the private forests for its 

 home timber product, private forestry should, under favorable conditions, become 

 as profitable here as anywhere else in America. But in this State private forestry 

 is confronted with unfavorable conditions. Our rate of taxation gives but little 

 chance for profit. Forest lands in New York, public and private, have an average 

 assessed valuation of two dollars, and bear a State tax of seven cents per acre. 

 Private forestry cannot be practiced under such a high rate of taxation. If a 

 forest is planted on denuded land, at the end of thirty years — about the time 

 when the first thinning will be made — the taxes, with accumulated interest, will 

 have amounted to more than the sale value of the timber.* 



In France and Switzerland reforested land is released from taxes for thirty 

 years. In Italy, instead of this, the forest department contributes to associations 

 and private owners three fifths of the total expense of the work of reforestation 



*See Economics of Forestry, p. 251, by B. Fernow, LL. D Also, Fifth Annual Report of the 

 New York State Forest, Fish and Game Commission, p. 397; Forest Taxation, by C. A. Schenck, 

 Ph. D. 



