73

H.—sb.

of several large sales of State forest property effected since 1860. According to that report, the present forest area of France (in round numbers) stands as follows: — State forests ... ... ... ... ... 900,000 hectares. Communal forests ... ... ... ... 2,000,000 „ Private forests 6,000,000 „ Total ... ... ... 8,900,000 „ . Forests in the Italian Provinces of Treviso, Belluno, and Udine. —The Cansiglio Forest occupies an elevated undulating plateau where the boundaries of the three provinces meet, but the largest portion is in the province of Belluno, area 7,246 hectares, of which 5,378 are stocked with forest, partly beech pure, partly beech mixed with spruce and silver fir, the remainder being pasture land. A portion of the beech timber is worked up on the spot by sieve makers, who purchase the tallest and cleanest stems to split them up into thin flexible planks, of which grain sieves and similar articles are made. The residence of the forest inspector in charge is, or was until lately, Vittorio, in the Province of Treviso. Montello, on low hills near the Piave River, between Ciano and Nervesa, district of Montebelluna, province of Treviso, mainly consists of oak; its area is 6,230 hectares. The residence of the inspector in charge is (or was until lately) Giavera, and is to be transferred to Treviso. Sommadida, district of Auronzo, province of Belluno, area 1,586 hectares, of which, however, 382 hectares only are stocked with forest. These are the principal State forests in these provinces. The communal forests mentioned on page 191 are situated in the following districts ; they are mainly stocked with spruce : — Commnnal. Private Forests. Province Belluno, Pieve di Cadore ... ... ... 11,724 hect. 2,043 hect. Auronzo ... ... ... ... 20,516 „ 1,680 „ „ Udine, Tolmezzo ... ... ... ... 26,751 „ 12,387 „ Ampezzo ... ... ... ... 19,238 „ 3,956 „ The inspectors who exercise the general control over these forests reside at Belluno and Udine. The best season to visit them is during May and June, when the lumber work is in full swing. The yield of these forests is stated to be 400,000 logs annually. The floating down the Piave River is facilitated by storing up water in a large reservoir near Dosoledo, in the parish of Comelico Superiore (district Auronzo); and lower down the river, at Perarolo, there is a large permanent rake across the river, by which the logs are caught before being rafted. By Authority: Gbobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB74. Price 2s. 9d_