No. 141.
Mr. Bliss to Mr. Fish.
Berlin, July 15, 1872. (Received July 31.)
Sir: Great attention is bestowed in Germany upon the preservation and culture of the forest. A code of laws and perfected system of treatment [Page 193] have grown up in each state upon the subject. The administration of the forest constitutes an important branch of the public service, employing a highly intelligent class of officials who are educated for the purpose in excellent schools.
The experience acquired in the care of the public domain, and a knowledge of the most approved methods of forest economy, are hence disseminated and become available for the private possessor, for parishes, &c, not under the control of the state, while the most essential prohibitory laws for the protection of the forest in some districts are obligatory upon all.
The recent extensive conflagrations in some of the northwestern States, and the observable effects upon the climate from the loss of forest, as well as the dearth of timber felt in some sections, are attracting attention in America to the importance of the subject.
I have been at some pains to procure from the several German governments, through the kindness of their representatives here, copies of their laws and publications in this branch.
Those of Prussia and of Baden I have forwarded some time since to the State library of Wisconsin.
I send two volumes of the Bavarian laws and system of culture, and eight volumes of the laws and method of administration of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. I beg that you will cause these volumes to be placed where they will be most likely to be of use in promoting knowledge of the subject. Perhaps the library of the Department of Agriculture would be their most appropriate place of deposit.
I have, &c.,