io2o Timber Supply of the United States, [march, 



permission of an inspector, as do also the cutting of shelter 

 belts and cuttings likely to be injurious to the growth and 

 renewal of the forest. Periods of cutting and removal of 

 wood are defined. 



The Department of Agriculture is instructed to secure the 

 afforestation of land with a view to its conversion into a 

 "protective" wood, and if necessary the State Council can 

 require the creation of such woods. The management of a 

 privately-owned woo'd of this type is subject in almost all 

 matters to the approval of the Forestry Inspector, and here 

 complete fellings are usually prohibited, though exceptionally 

 permission may be given subject to replanting being 

 immediately undertaken. 



With regard to the public forests, it is laid down that they 

 are to be managed on a systematic plan with a view to their 

 conservation, and the Department of Agriculture regulates 

 the work to be done annually. 



One interesting feature of the Swiss laws provides for the 

 formation of associations of private owners of woods in cases 

 where the lancl belonging to individual proprietors is much 

 divided into small lots. It is contemplated that the manage- 

 ment of such woods grouped together should be undertaken 

 by the forest staff of the canton without expense to the 

 owners, and where such woods come under the heading 

 " protective," the State Council may require their treatment in 

 groups in this way. The expenses of the allotment, survey- 

 ing, &c, are paid by the Federal Council. Up to the present 

 only two small areas have been proposed for treatment in 

 this manner, and in neither case has the project been finally 

 completed. 



The question of a possible shortage in the timber supply 

 has of late attracted some attention in the United States, and 

 the Department of Agriculture has 

 The Timber Supply accordingly issued a Circular (Forest 

 of the United States. Service, No. 166), which gives such 

 information as is available as to the 

 extent of the forests, their ownership, the rate at which they 

 are being cut, and the outlook for the future. The data have 

 been drawn from every available source, but are admittedly 

 incomplete. 



