France has been the scene of greatest success in replanting vacant ground with trees. The reign of Napoleon III, will ever bear a memorable name for the decided encouragement which he gave to this branch of agriculture. An interesting experiment was begun by his direction in the department of the Hautes Alpes, to resotre lands that were desolated by the removal of the original forests. For years the country was destitute, agriculture declined, village after village became deserted, until the department had lost 11,000 of its population. The peasantry opposed with the greatest violence any attempt at the replacement of the forests, and the government was obliged at last to force them to returf the barren districts. The result is said to be most satisfactory: the covering of sod has retained the rain, instead of allowing it to run off in torrents, and the desolate, barren districts of the last few years are reassuming the luxuriant vegetation with which they were clothed in olden times.

This subject is also beginning to be ventilated in England, and they are in a great state of mind. In former days half England was a forest, but by degrees acre after acre has teen disforested. Even the limits of Windsor Forest, which early in the century formed a circuit of fifty-six miles, have been greatly curtailed; and the New Forest, where Rufus fell, in Hampshire, is the only considerable one left. Near London is Epping Forest, which fifty years ago was very extensive, but has gradually been filched away by neigboring property owners until there are only some three thousand acres left. Lately, however, the Londoners have become very much in earnest about allowing no further encroachment, and even insisting upon reparation, and as the corporation of London, with its long purse and law officers, has taken the matter up, vigorously supported by the press, there seems a chance that the venerable forest, which contains magnificent old oaks, will be preserved.

The forest lands of the crown are somehow very badly managed, and yield a miserable return. It is computed that if the New Forest, which lies in a lovely district on the Southampton water, were sold in lots, it would realize $10,000,000. The scenery is very picturesque, not merely thick woods, but broad expanses of velvety turf overshadowed by splendid single trees; fine groves, glades and vistas, delightful for summer riding.