862 Afforestation in Denmark, Holland, etc. [feb., 



cultivation is drawn up by the State Forest Administration 

 in consultation with the municipality, and the loan is fixed so 

 as not to exceed £4. per acre, or 80 per cent, of the cost of 

 cultivation. The commune then binds itself to carry out the 

 work under State supervision and in accordance with the 

 plans of cultivation approved by the Forest Administration. 



France. — As regards France, the Ministry of Agriculture 

 state that in virtue of a law of 4th April, 1882, dealing with 

 mountainous lands, the State buys each year uncultivated 

 lands in the Alps, Pyrenees, Cevennes, and the Central 

 Plateau, for the purpose of re-afforestation. The extent of 

 land thus acquired up to January, 1907, was 503,000 acres. 

 Grants of money are made, and plants and seeds are supplied 

 to communes, associations, and private individuals to assist 

 them in the work of re-afforestation. The land planted 

 through this public assistance is 249,000 acres. 



Exemption from the land tax is granted to owners who 

 afforest their lands, viz. : — Complete exemption during 30 

 years for sowings and plantings made on the tops and slopes 

 of mountains; and a reduction of three-fourths for all land 

 planted or sown, whatever its situation, during the first 30 

 years. 



Belgium .— H.M. Minister at Brussels states that the sum of 

 ,£12,000 is annually voted for the purpose of enabling the 

 State to acquire wooded lands or lands fit for planting. When 

 there is an opportunity of purchasing such land, the proposal 

 is laid before the Chambers, who decide if the purchase should 

 be made, and vote an additional grant if required. A sum 

 of £ l 9>5™ is also provided for works in connection with the 

 State Forests. 



The State does not give financial assistance to private per- 

 sons with a view to encouraging the planting of trees, except 

 in certain particular cases, such as planting over abandoned 

 mines or quarries, or with a view to screening a blemish on 

 the landscape. In such cases the expense may be partially 

 or entirely borne by the State. The Government foresters 

 are, however, always willing to give any information to 

 private persons regarding forestry. Forests belonging to 

 the communes are managed and inspected by the Forestry 

 Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, and a part only 



