Ornell University Library “Ta Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924002928277 RALPH S. HOSMER Professor of Forestry Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. IMPRESSIONS OF EUROPEAN FORESTRY Letters written during a six months’ visit to England and to the Continent BY RALPH S. HOSMER, MI. F. PROFESSOR OF FORESTRY rd CORNELL UNIVERSITY s PRICE ONE DOLLAR Published by THE LUMBER WORLD REVIEW Transportation Building Chicago, Illinois 1922 CopyRIcHTED, 1922 BY R. 8. HOSMER @_26298 FOREWORD OSS In the summer and autumn of 1921 it was the privilege of the writer, during a period of sabbatic leave from Cornell University, to visit a number of the countries of northern Eur- ope. His main object in making this trip was to obtain first hand acquaintance with cer- tain features of the forests and forestry work of these countries, particularly with reference to his work as a teacher of forestry and also because of the bearing that European experience has on some of the forest problems of the United States. The eight letters here reprinted were written as contributions to the LumMBER WorLp Re- view, at the request of the editor and publisher of that journal, Mr. Bolling Arthur Johnson. Written en route as they were, these letters make no pretension of covering comprehensively the forest work of any of the countries visited. Rather the idea was to present in a non- technical way the personal reaction of one American forester to certain European forest practices. Their publication in this form is made with the thought that some of the matters commented upon may be of interest to foresters and timberland owners in the United States. If they serve to quicken an interest in what is being done in forestry overseas, their purpose will have been achieved. . Grateful acknowledgment is here made to all those foresters of whatever station with whom the writer came in contact while abroad for the very many courtesies which he received at their hands. In almost every one of the letters he has had occasion to refer to the cor- diality of the welcome accorded him. He wishes here once more to express his keen and lasting appreciation of all that was done to assist and aid him in accomplishing the objects that he had in mind. He can but feel that such contacts as are establishéd by meetings of this type go a long way toward increasing mutual understanding and good relations between this country and our friends overseas. —RALPH 8. HOSMER. Department of Forestry . Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. , June 27, 1922 (5) The text and illustrations of this book were orig- inally published as a series of eight articles in the Publication Offices, 1740 Transportation Building 608 South Dearborn Street CHICAGO of the following dates in 1921-22: Oct. 10; Nov. 25; Jan. 10; Feb. 25; March 25; April 25; May 10; May 25. ADDENDA Impressions of European Forestry By Ralph S. Hosmer Since the republication of these letters in book form the attention of the author has been called to certain inaccuracies in a few of his statements. He is glad to take this means of correcting these errors. Chapter 2, pp. 21, 28, 24. Sweden. In a letter dated October 20, 1922, Hon. Karl Fredenberg, General Direktér of the Kung]. Domanstyrelsen, says: “Referring to your excellent description of forests and forestry in Sweden I beg to make herewith a few remarks: “You say that the organization in Sweden is strictly centralized so that even questions of minor import go to Stockholm for decision. This depends of course on what means by minor questions. I wish to remind you that, for example, a forester (jagmistare) has the right of accepting sale bids up te an amount of 1000 Swedish kronors’ value, and the district inspector (6verjagmastare) up to 10,000 kronors. In questions of principle it is, how- ever, possible that even small questions are put to the central office for de- cision. “Referring to the ‘protection forest’ laws, a private owner cannot appeal to the government to buy his land on the ground that he is displeased with the blazing obtained, but he has the right to do so when it has been considered necessary to so restrict the cutting as to include even his privilege of taking timber for his private needs. “The General law of 1903 does not apply to the whole of Sweden. The two most northern provinces (lan) are excepted from it, where the more se- vere forest laws are in force. In consequence there are no local forest com- missions (skogsvardsstyrelse) there, as these latter laws are handled by the central office.” On page 24, through a typographic error, 10 acres is given as the equiva- lent of 2 hectare. One hectare—2.47 acres. Chapter 5, p. 44. Forestry in France. The title of Theodore Salisbury Weoley Jr., the author of “Studies in French Forestry”, is Lt. Colonel, not ajor. Chapter 8, pp. 79 and 80. Forest Schools in Great Britain. In regard to the statement covering the Forestry Department of the University of Aber- deen, Mr. Fraser Story, Education Officer and University Examiner, British Forestry Commission, writes under the date of Sept. 16, 1922: “As regards your comments on British Universities, I must say I am doubtful if you are right in conveying the impression that more advanced courses are offered at Oxford and Cambridge than elsewhere. Aberdeen Uni- versity and the University of Wales (Bangor) provide courses of a standard quite equal to those of the older Universities and Dr. Borthwick (Sec’y of the Forestry Commission, Scotland), to whom I have just put the question, is of my opinion. You may have got a different impression because the Commis- sioners are anxious to develop forestry teaching at Oxford and, in course of time, I have no doubt better facilities will be forth-coming at that centre but, at present, I am personally convinced no distinction can be made.” Further on this point, Mr. P. Leslie, Head of the Department of Forestry at Aberdeen, says, Oct. 17, 1922: “Aberdeen is a very old university, going back to nearly 1400, although our forestry school was not started until 1908; William Dawson, now of Cam- bridge, being the first member of the Lectureship. As regards the type of men turned out at Aberdeen, they are sometimes already graduates before they enter the forestry courses, although it is not compulsory that they should be so. One of the Research men of the Forestry Commission was a graduate student who received his forestry training wholly with us.” w TABLE OF CONTENTS Great Britain’s Afforestation Program . : Why it was undertaken; how it is being carried forward ...........-0 ee en eeeee 9 Forests and Forestry in Sweden Methods of dealing with privately owned forests; supervision by Community Com- WUIttCeS .y4 Las wade SESE. 2H TALIA PAGERS OSE BEETS ASIC WES TOG ERS Cw Oe oe. 18 Forests and Forestry in Norway and Denmark Methods of dealing with privately owned forests. Government supervision and con- TO) eis ha Ss EEE SERS ES BPR ER EE TAI RS UGG GY ao owe .. 26 A Few Observations on Forestry in Germany A visit to German State Forests; meeting with Dr. C. A. Schenck ................ 35 Some Features of Forestry in France Impressions received during a series of visits to certain typical forests..........:. 44 Two Distinctive Phases of French Forestry Practical accomplishments in Reboisement and Reclamation ........ pote e serene 53 - City, Town and Communal Forests A phase of Europeansforestry that has particular significance for the United States.. 63 Some European Forests Schools A popular account of visits paid to forest schools in Great Britain, France, Switzer- land and the Scandinavian Countries ..... 0... cece ee eee ee ee ee rene 70 . (7) Great Britain’s Afforestation Program Why It Was Undertaken: Great Britain is on the verge of becoming a timber producing country. If any one had made such a prediction in the spring of 1914 his statement, to put it mildly, would have been received with incredulity. Today the as- sertion comes near to being a statement of fact. ‘The stern necessities of the Great War proved conclusively that no nation is safe with- out its own supply of timber and of wood. One result of the war in the British Isles is that a program is now actually under way that pro- vides for the afforestation of an area sufficient to supply the forest needs of the British people for a period of three years. Never again, after these new forests come to merchantable size, How it Is Being Carried Forward does Great Britain mean to be caught with its wood supply cut off by hostile submarines, or to be forced to have the carrying power of its ships for food stuffs curtailed by essential but necessarily bulky cargoes of wood. It is a big program on which Great Britain has entered; one that extends over a period of 40 or more years for the afforestation alone. But the British nation is committed to it. By act of Parliament three and a half million pounds sterling (roughly nearly $15,000,000 at normal rates of exchange) have been author- ized to be expended in the decade from 1919 to 1929. It is anticipated that for each of the next two ten-year periods even larger sums will be made available. This is forestry in earnest and it behooves Americans to take note of it, for DOUGLAS FIR PLANTATION ON LAKE VYRNWY, WALES. D. W. YOUNG, DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, AT RIGHT SAMPLE PLOT OF EUROPEAN LARCH IN TINTERN FOREST, ENGLAND, FORTY- TWO YEARS OLD (9) with our area of original forest rapidly dimin- ishing, we may be nearer to England’s present plight than any of us like to think. The purpose of this letter is to set forth why the British forestry program has come into be- ing, with some personal notes on how it is working out in practice. Most of the figures quoted are from the First Annual Report of ‘the Forestry Commission [First Annual Report of the Forestry Commissioners. Year ending Sept. 30, 1920, London, 1921. 60 pp. Published July, 1921, by His Majesty’s Stationery Office, Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W. C. 2— at 10% pence], or from other publications of that department. The illustrations are of lo- calities personally visited by the writer during July and August of the present year. But be- fore proceeding to details a word more about the general program. The money alloted to the “Forestry Fund” is to be expended primarily in the acquisition of non-agricultural land, suited only to forest pro- duction, and in the planting of these areas with commercially valuable timber trees. In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1920, £478,000 were made available for the forestry fund by votes of Parliament, plus £12,347 received mainly from the sale of timber and other forest prod- ucts; a total of £490,347. On Sept. 30, 1920 the Forestry Commission was in occupation of a total area of 48,342 acres, of which 1,595 acres were planted during that year. Not a bad showing for the first season’s work of a newly organized government body. During the present decade, from 1919 to 1929, it is proposed to afforest 150,000 acres, at a rate of planting that increases per annum in somewhat the following proportion: In the year 1919-20, 1,600 acres will be planted; in 1920-21, 5,700 acres; in 1921-22, 8,100 acres; in 1922-23, 11,500 acres; in 1923-24, 14,800. In the last years of the decade between 20,000 and 30,000 acres will be planted each season. It is of particular interest to Americans to know that in this huge forest planting program large dependance is being placed on two trees from our own Pacific coast, Douglas fir and Sitka spruce. Other American trees are also being used, but to a much less extent. This is made possible by the close resemblance in cli- matic conditions between the Pacific northwest and the British Isles. Of the indigenous spe- cies, Scots pine, European larch and Norway spruce are the most important; of other exotics Corsican pine and Japanese larch. Of the 1,595 acres planted in 1920, all but 121 acres were devoted to conifers. The aim of the LUMBER WORLD REVIEW is to give news. That is the “story.” Let me now fill in some of the details. THE REASON FOR A BRITISH FOREST POLICY England ‘has long been known as a wood im- porting country. Because of the close proxi- mity of other countries from which ample supplies could easily be procured, especially those of the Scandinavian peninsula and, of ‘headed the list of imports. late years, of northern Russia, it was not felt to be necessary in the United Kingdom to de- vote very much systematic attention to the home production of timber supplies. This is perhaps the more marked because of the fact that in India, Great Britain has maintained a progressive forestry organization for over 70 years. But at home England’s merchant ma- rine could attend to bringing in timber.’ And so it did—until the war. The Forestry Commission’s report has a significant paragraph on this topic: “Statistics gathered. during the ‘period of enquiry’ (1885- 1915) had made it generally known that: “1. Imports of timber had increased five fold between 1850 and 1910. “2. The consumption per head in the same period had risen from 3% cubic feet per annum to nearly 11 cubic feet. “3. The ratio of home to foreign timber had declined, and in 1914 amounted to barely 10 percent of the supply. “4, The price of imported timber had risen steadily during the 30 years.before the war, while the quality had declined. : “That this state of. things was unsatisfactory in time of peace was generally admitted. It required but one year of war to show how criti- cal the position was in a time of national emergency. In 1913 the quantities of timber and grain imported were about equal, and They absorbed be- tween them a quarter of the total shipping that entered British ports from overseas. In 1916 the people were hungry, yet despite the most strenuous efforts to set more ships free for im- porting grain, it was found impossible to re- duce even by 1 percent the proportion of shipping required to carry the timber essential for operations of war abroad and at home.”— (Loc. sit. p. 11]. Such was the situation that the United King- dom faced. Is it any wonder that provision is. being made for a three years’ supply, should a like emergency ever arise again? THE STORY OF ITS DEVELOPMENT In studying the forest history of Great Britain one is struck with three things: First—That there were numerous individuals, far sighted men, from the 17th century on, who predicted danger and who recommended better practices. Sir Walter Scott, just about a cen- tury ago, in an inimitable essay, “On the Plant- ing of Waste Land,’ made suggestions that are as sound today as when they were uttered. But like the wise recommendations, regarding the Adirondack forest, made about the same time by Governor De Witt Clinton of New York—whose chief claim to present day re- membrance is that his picture adorns the rev- enue stamps on our cigarette boxes—these warnings fell for the most part on unheeding ears, Second: That as well as individual voices, Great Britain has had a series of weighty and able reports from one official commission after another on various phases of forestry and on (10) afforestation. But until the war practically all of these reports were relegated to the pigeon holes of government bureaus and came to naught. One exception, however, is to be noted; the report of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion and Afforestation, of 1909, for while its recommendations were not acted upon, it ex- erted a useful influence on a sub-committee of the Reconstruction Committee of the British Cabinet that was appointed in 1916. The last named body secured results, for its report, known from the chairman, the Rt. Hon. F. D. because from the planted rorests on the private estates came the timber that kept England go- ing during the latter years of the great conflict. It was not, as our newspapers then had iit, the old oaks and other ornamental trees that line the long avenues by which one approaches the great houses, that were cut in the war—al- though some such trees were felled—but rather the even aged stands of Scots pine, spruce and larch that had been planted anywhere from 50 or 60 to 120 or more years ago. Much of this material went into pit props (mine tim- A VIEW SHOWING SOME OF THE OLDEST AND BEST SCOTS PINE IN SCOTLAND. DEER OF CASTLE GRANT, GRANTOWN ON SPEY, IN FOREGROUND BLAIR CASTLE, SEAT OF THE DUKE OF ATHOLL, WHOSE FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN GREAT TREE PLANTERS, INTRODUCING LARCH INTO SCOTLAND IN 1738 Acland, M. P., as the “Acland Report,” in effect resulted in the passage by Parliament, in the summer of 1919, of the act establishing the present Forestry Commission. The third point about the history of forestry in the United Kingdom is the active interest in trees and in forests that has been typical of the owners of the large private estates in Eng- land, Wales and Scotland for upwards of two centuries. This interest has served the nation well; first, because it led to the experimental planting of many exotic trees, and second, and certainly of infinite importance during the war, bers, we should call them) for the colleries of Wales and the midland counties of England. One striking instance of this use was told me in Wales. Before the war 95 percent of the pit props were imported. Many came from the south of France (Maritime pine) as a cheap return cargo in the coal ships that must other- wise have come home in ballast. During the war the ratio was exactly reversed; 95 percent of the pit props were home grown, 5 percent only were imported. The forests on the large estates saved the coal mines of England. It is difficult to obtain accurate data as: to (11) the quantities of wood so cut, but figures given out by the Forestry Commission in 1920 [For- estry in the United Kingdom—statement pre- pared by the Forestry Commission for the British Empire Forestry conference. London, July, 1920, p. 31] throw some light on the mat- ter, to wit: “The area felled during the war is estimated to amount to approximately 470 square miles. Taking an average of 1,600,000 cubic feet, the total utilization would be 750,000,000 cubic feet.” These figures do not perhaps seem large in terms of American forests, but when one stops to consider that all figures are relative and that after all both England and Scotland have but limited areas of land surface, he comes to appreciate their ‘significance. Cer- tain it is that had_the war continued another year practically every estate plantation would have been requisitioned, including perhaps even the old Scots pine forest at Ballochbuie on the King’s personal estate at Balmoral, Scotland. About Balmoral and on another big estate just over the mountains, at Grantown-on-Spey, the Scots pine reproduces naturally and abun- dantly. In most other localities the Scottish and British foresters have to rely on artificial planting, which naturally leads, with the even aged stands, to the adoption of clear cutting, followed by planting. In this particular America has a distinct advantage, in that in so many parts of our country natural reproduc- tion can be depended on for a new crop, pro- vided always that some seed trees are left and that fire is kept out. In the United Kingdom, too, much outlay has to be made for the pro- tection of forest plantations from rabbits, and in some localities, from deer. The cost of fencing soon runs into large figures. Likewise, in certain sections drainage of the land by open ditches is felt to be essential, while in other localities the cleaning out of grass, bracken and other growth has to precede the establishment of the young trees on land that is being newly planted. When to these charges are added the high rates of post-war labor, tree planting becomes an expensive process, one that demands the rapid growth that is made for example by Douglas fir. But to revert to private estate forestry. One who has visited that rugged bit of the Scottish Highlands, as it was my privilege to do a fort- night since, cannot wonder that the King likes to’ retire to Balmoral for real relaxation. But save for the old Scots pines that estate and the adjacent one, Abergeldie, belonging to the Prince of Wales, are not as interesting from a forest standpoint as are others where the in- troduction and planting of trees has been an avocation of the proprietors, often for several successive generations. Timber tree planta- tions started under such auspices are more than mere commercial forests. That was why it hurt to have them requisitioned and swept away during the war. But I was told that al- most without exception the owners willingly responded to the call when it.was made. To anyone who at all possesses the historic sense, it becomes evident that the value to their owners of these estate forests is almost inestimable. When our host on one of them in Wales casually referred to a forest right that dated back to the 18th century as if it were an everyday matter, as to him it doubtless was, it tended to bring home to one what these great landed properties mean to the families that have held them through all the years. Whether or not one approves the theory of the British land system, he cannot come away from the United Kingdom without realizing that on these estates he has got close to the heart of Britain. As to, the value to the nation of the estate forests and for one other point worth noting in ‘this connection, I cannot refrain from quoting again from the report of the Forestry Commis- sion, because of its bearing on the present af- forestation program. Speaking of the three solid achievements of British private forestry, it says [p. 8]: “(1) The trees were planted, which, during the recent war, when it was a choice between importing food or timber, enabled the people of these islands to be fed. “(2) The faster growing conifers were in- troduced and the way paved for planting them on a commercial scale, a step which may, if there is no unforeseen set-back, revolutionize continental ideas on length of rotation and maximum yield. “(3) Experiments were made, which though not fully recorded, should with intelligent in- vestigation supply much of the information re- ae for the successful establishment of state orests.” It cannot, I think, be too strongly emphasized that our British cousins are not going at this great planting plan of theirs blindly, or that in pinning their faith to exotic species like Doug- las fir, they are doing so without good reasons. On the various estates, but particularly in Scotland, practical men have been watching and noting through several generations what small groups and demonstration areas of these trees have been doing. This information, un- fortunately, is only in part tabulated, but it is nevertheless available and the tree planters of today are being guided by the Successes and failures of the past. Striking examples of such continued interest in exotic trees and experi- mental plantations are to be found in Scotland on the Murthly Estate, near Birnam (whence traveled the wood to Dunsinane), which is noted for the wonderful avenues of magnificent old trees of many kinds that adorn the “noli- cies” or grounds immediately about the castle. The neighboring estate of the Duke of Atholl at Dunkeld still cherishes one of the original larch trees introduced into Scotland from the continent by the head of that house in 1738. It is said that these trees were first grown in a greenhouse, but as they were doing poorly they were thrown out, fortunately to strike root in the soil and become the progenitors of all the larch forests of Scotland today. The old tree has a girth at 3 feet of some 17 feet . (12) and is 102 feet tall. Not far from it grows an ancient oak, a representative of “Birnam Wood,” that easily runs back over 500 years. And these are but instances. If we in the United States had equally as good information about even the most valuable of our trees as the English and Scottish forest- ers have about their relatively few species, one phase of our problem of a national timberland THE BRITISH NATIONAL FOREST POLICY The ultimate object of the British National Forest Policy is, as has been stated, “the crea- tion in Great Britain and Ireland of reserves of standing timber sufficient to meet the es- sential requirements of the nation over a limited period of three years in time of war or SAMPLE PLOT, LAKE VYRNWY, WALES. NOTE NUMBERS ON TREES. PUR- POSE: TO STUDY GROWTH AND YIELD : A VIEW SHOWING FOREST NURSERY IN TINTERN WwooDS— INDICATING THE EXTENT OF THE NURSERY policy would be greatly simplified, although each nation has to work out and develop its own methods in forestry as in other things. But to recapitulate my third point, I believe that what has been done on the private estates in the United Kingdom is significant and that we Americans can profit in a number of ways from an acquaintance with what has there been accomplished. national emergency. The immediate objective is a ten year scheme based on a block grant,” The Acland Committee decided, after an ex- haustive examination, “that it would be. nec- essary for the state to afforest 1,770,000 acres of land previously unplanted (of which 1,180,- 000 acres should be planted in 40 years, and the whole in 80 years); and, at the same time, to take steps to secure the continuance under (13) timber and obtain an increased yield from the 3,000,000 acres of private forests which existed in 1914.” This is then the general policy, but one of the difficulties arises in reference to the last clause of the above quoted statement. For the * present ten year period (1919-1929) the area of privately owned land to be afforested is 110,000 acres (out of the 3,000,000). Many of the pri- vate owners are willing enough and would be glad to proceed but at present are financially What the outcome will be no one seems to be able to predict, but it is a situation that is causing no little anxiety to those who stand for the continuation of established usages. The whole problem is full of complexities but this brief mention will indicate why greater activity in forest work may be looked for in the imme- diate future from the government rather than from the private estate owner. The above leads naturally to a note upon one method whereby the Forestry Commission is .|HIGH MEADOW | WOODS, ENGLAND. | OLD CROWN AN YOUNG PLOT, 4] AND OLDER ;| STANDS THE CLEBBON NURSERY AND VIEW OF THE FORESTER’S ¥2| HOUSE, TINTERN | WOODS, ENGLAND unable to do so. Taxation, especially of land, has reached practically the breaking point in the United Kingdom. The basic rate of the income tax is six shillings to the pound; when to this are added the local taxes (‘“rates,” as they are called), which often run up to 12 shill- ings, it is obvious that the owner has little left. In some cases even, with the surtax on large incomes, the tax bill totals around 22 shillings on the pound (20 shillings). Unless the propri- etor has considerable investments in other se- curities it is not difficult to see what happens. Indeed many old estates are being sold and broken up into small holdings as the result. obtaining occupation of the area to be planted. This is not by direct purchase of the land in fee simple but by a lease for a very long period, so that in effect control of the area is secured practically in perpetuity. It follows a custom that has long been in vogue on the large estates and appears admirably to suit the local conditions of the United Kingdom. This method has the unique advantage of very con- siderably increasing the purchasing power of the appropriations at present available, for naturally the sums that must be paid out as annual rental are materially less than would be the amounts required for outright purchase. (14) Many of the large estate owners have in this way turned over certain of their forest lands to the Forestry Commission, reserving, how- ever, specified rights as to hunting and fishing. It is the policy of the commission not to ac- quire land that cannot produce at least 40 to 50 cubic feet per acre per annum, of which the poorer classes of Scots pine land serve as an example. On land well adapted for the growth of Douglas fir as much as 160 cubic feet per acre per annum can be grown, and provided a market exists for pit props, such an area will pay back the cost of planting in the first 25 years. It is figured that after a few decades the newly planted forests will become self sup- porting through thinnings, systematically made, at definite intervals. One other class of forest should here be mentioned, that belonging to municipal and “WATLING STREET,” LONDON TO CHESTER, IN THE FOREST OF DEAN. MR. BECK AND SON A BIT OF ROMAN ROAD, corporate bodies. Perhaps the most striking example is the holding of the corporation of Liverpool, at Vyrnwy, Montgomeryshire, Wales. It comprises an area of 354% square miles and includes the catchment basin and reservoir that gives the city of Liverpool its water supply. By means of a high dam a charming lake has been created in a valley among the hills. On every side, up to the summit of the ridge, for- est is being planted under a co-operative plan between the corporation and the Forestry Com- _mission. It will take 20 years to complete the planting, when the forest will cover 7% square miles, above and around the lake. Surely here is an example that many American cities might ell copy. "The aicundtive thing about Vyrnwy is that the corporation was not content merely to se- cure the land necessary for its reservoir, with a narrow belt around its shores, but acquired the whole catchment basin and is afforesting all of the area above the water line. Incident- ally it may be said that a visit to Lake Vyrnwy well repays anyone who has a love for beautiful scenery Although the locality is rather inaccessible one is well cared for on ar- rival, at an excellen! hotel. Lake Vyrnwy is to be commended along with some of the wilder lochs in the Scottish Highlands. It is one of the localities where Douglas fir grows exceptionally well. Still another class of forests, the manage- ment of which is now under the Forestry Com- mission, are the old crown forests, like the Forest of Dean, Highmeadow Woods and Tintern Woods, iv one of the Midland counties of England. From them, as from the private estates, valuable notes can be got as to the behavior of exotic tree species. They also in- clude stretches of coppice oak forest, too small and poor in character to be of much com- mercial value. In time such stands will be clear cut and replaced by planted forests of the fast growing conifers. It is on such forests as these that one sees also the old oak trees that date back to the age when the term “Royal Forest” meant primarily the lands where the king and his nobles hunted the red deer, and when the value of the trees was but a minor consideration. FOREST NURSERIES To provide the little trees that are to be planted on the various projects naturally re- quires that no little attention be given to the matter of forest nurseries. Through the activ- ity of a specially appointed body, the Interim Forest Authority, considerable preliminary work was undertaken in the years 1918 and 1919, so that when the present Forestry Com- mission began its work in November of the latter year, it did so with a flying start. The total areas in nurseries for the United King- dom and Ireland for the three years 1918, 1919 and 1920 were respectively as follows: 217.6 acres, 271.6 acres and 343.2 acres. On Sept. 30, 1920 there were growing in these nurseries 27,000,000 transplants and 169,000,000 seedlings, the great majority being coniferous species. During the present year much additional land has been taken in. This procedure will con- tinue, so that the supply for planting out will always keep ahead of the acquisition of plant- ing sites. The size of the individual nurseries varies with the locality. Some forests have only a few acres; others like the Craibstone nursery near Aberdeen, Scotland, run up to large acreages. The Craibstone nursery con- tains 75 acres. It was started in 1916 under the direction of Mr. P. Leslie of the Department of Forestry, University of Aberdeen, and was taken over by the Forestry Commission in April, 1920. As an index of its growth it may be noted that 900,000 seedlings were started in 1916; in 1921 over 25,000,000. It is still un- decided whether it is better to use large, cen- trally located nurseries, or to have numerous smaller ones nearer the planting sites. To this, (15) as to other details of nursery practice and pro- cedure, the officials of the Forestry Commis- sion are giving careful thought. In choosing the areas to be planted and in SPRUCE ALONGSIDE DRAINAGE DITCH, LAKE VYRNWY, D. W. YOUNG, DIVISIONAL OFFICER selecting the kind of tree to use on a given site, the factors of soil and of elevation play a large part, both in England and in Scotland. One thousand to 1,200 feet seems to be the up- per limit in most of the mountainous districts, the strong winds on the upper slopes making good growth impracticable. There are also in- teresting problems as to whether inferior graz- ing land had not best be afforested. The question of restricting the area at present used for hunting and for grouse shooting seems not to be a serious one, as there is enough land left above and outside of the plantable areas. Essentially it is the non-agricultural mountain slopes that are being afforested. The range of wood production has been found to vary from 40 to 160 cubic feet per acre per annum. Tak- ing 60 cubic feet as an average on the whole area, the Forestry Commission estimates the gross annual return at something between £1;10. and £2;10. per acre. ORGANIZATION AND PERSONNEL Americans are usually interested in matters of organization. That of the British Forestry Commission is a Board of Eight members, two of whom are salaried; the chairman, Lord Lovat and the technical commissioner, Mr. R. L. Robinson. The purely executive work, un- der the general direction of the commission, is in charge of three assistant commissioners, who sit with the board at its monthly meetings. These gentlemen are Mr. Hugh Murray, C. I. E., C. B. E., for England and Wales; Col. John Sutherland, C. B. E., for Scotland; and Mr. A. C. Forbes, O. B. E., for Ireland. Mr. Murray was formerly in the Forest Service in British India. Under the assistant commissioners are di- visional officers, at the present time three in England, two in Wales, four in Scotland and two in Ireland. Under them in turn are district officers, who for the most part are also tech- nically trained foresters, who have charge of one or more forests, each of which aggregates from 2,000 acres up. The local man on each forest, under the district officer, corresponds somewhat to the forest ranger on our national forests. He has direct charge of the nurseries and the supervision of the laborers. The gen- eral headquarters of the commission is in Lon- don, 22 Grosvenor Gardens; that of the assistant commissioner for Scotland, in Edin- burgh. To both the London office and that at Edinburgh are attached technical assistants and other specialists who handle specific prob- lems or carry on investigative work that bears on administration. The technical assistant (really adviser) for Scotland is Dr. A. W. Borthwick. Great Britain is indeed fortunate in having as the head of its forestry work the present chairman of the Forestry Commission, Lord Lovat, K. T., K.C. M. G., D. S.O. Coming from the Scottish Highlands, of a family that has been noted for centuries in the annals of both Scotland and England, Lord Lovat is a real leader of men. He went out to South Africa in the Boer War in command of Lovat’s Scouts. During the great war he was in charge of the timber supply work for the British Army in France, and now as the chief administrative officer of the Forestry Commission he plays an r CLOSE UTILIZATION FOREST, ENGLAND—NOTE SHOWN, TINTERN LOW STUMP ROBERTS, CROWN TINTERN: CENTER MR. CANADIAN PULP AND PAPER ASSOCIATION —ON RIGHT G. R. FORESTER, BECK, (16) important part in the affairs of the Empire. Physically Lord Lovat is a big man, tall and well proportioned. He is absolutely democratic in manner; obviously a leader who inspires all the members of his organization by the force of his own example. Under Lord Lovat’s guid- ance the forestry program of the United King- dom should progress steadily, rapidly and surely. Of the other members of the Forestry Com- mission, of various grades, the impression that I bring away from Great Britain is that of a highly intelligent and keen body of men who are actively and devotedly giving their best to the upbuilding of the nation’s prosperity. I had the opportunity of meeting a considerable number in all the various ranks. The key note of the organization is unquestionably team play. OTHER WORK OF THE FORESTRY COMMISSION There is much more that might be said of the newly awakened interest in forestry in the British Isles and in the Empire. A campaign of popular education is planned against the time when the allotment for the next decade of tree planting comes to be considered.. An elaborate program is being worked out regard- ing forestry education, both at certain of the Universities and in apprentice schools. Re- search work and forest experiment stations are not being overlooked, nor assistance to private owners and the encouragement of forest indus- tries. In the summer of 1920 there was held in London the British Empire Forestry Con- ference, when forest officials assembled from the far corners of the earth to discuss common problems and to lay plans for mutual help and co-operation. A second conference is sched- uled to be held in Canada in 1923 which should materially advance this project, a part of which is the establishment of the Im- perial Forestry Bureau. Plans are also well in hand for a British Empire Forestry Socie- ty, a more general and popular association. There is no question but that forestry is a live issue in Great Britain and that its influ- ence is being felt far over seas. But these things are not within the scope of this letter. Enough if it has served to awaken interest in a far sighted forestry program, of which we as Americans can well take cog- nizance in view of the problems of a kindred nature that face us in our own country. Fur- ther, this program, is ‘being carried out by the. other great branch of the English speaking peoples, with whom we, working together as we must, share the responsibility of uphold- ing the western ideal of civilization. (17) Forests and Forestry in Sweden Methods of Dealing with Privately Owned Forests: Supervision by Community Committees The Scandinavian peninsula is the wood yard of Europe. Sweden and Norway are both countries of limited area and lying as far north as they do are restricted in the crops that can be produced. But they can grow great forests. Consequently the export of lumber and other forest products, including pulp, ranks high in the industrial life of both nations and brings in a very considerable proportion of their annual income. This fact is generally understood and ap- preciated by the people of both countries, so that it is only natural that provision has been made to perpetuate the forests. The purpose of the present letter is to indicate certain features of forestry as it is practiced in Sweden, with particular reference to phases of the work that have a bearing on American conditions, Sweden is the larger of the two countries. and covers about 58 percent of the Scandi- navian peninsula, constituting its eastern part, It is roughly comparable in size to the com: pined land areas of the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, or to the state of California. It lies between 55° and 69° north latitude and between 10° and 24° east longitude. The total area is 110,770,000 acres. The mountainous ‘backbone of the peninsula separates Sweden from Norway, the higher elevations being in the north. From this range the country slopes gradually east- ward to the Baltic sea while in its central and southern parts Sweden has a relatively level topography. The population is in the neigh- borhood of 6,000,000. The most important cities are Stockholm, the capital, Goteborg and Malmo. THE LAST THINNING WAS IN 1915 STAND OF PINE. STAND OF PINE. WHITE CROSSES MARK CALIPER HEIGHT (18) Productive forests cover about 51 percent of the total land area of Sweden, the most im- portant forest regions being in the northern provinces. Coniferous species made up 85 to 90 percent of the stands, pine (tall) and spruce (gran) being the two that are of com- mercial value. Of the broadleaf species birch is locally important while in the southern part of Sweden are found beech, oak and ash. Trees of minor value are aspen, alder, linden, elm and maple, but it is the two conifers, pine and spruce, that make up the forests. Of exotic species the larch and silver fir are found in planted stands in the central and southern parts of the country. Many American trees have been tried but few of them seem to do well. Sweden pins her faith to the native species. So much for the basis on which the Swedish foresters have to work. OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF SWEDISH FORESTRY The points which impress themselves on the visitor to the forests of Sweden are (1) the systematic organization of the forest work, (2) the interest taken in the scientific investi- gation of all forest problems, and (3) the ap- devoted all his available time while in Sweden to seeing the work of the Swedish members of that profession in the growing of forests and in bringing them to the time of harvest- ing the forest crop. He did not attempt, even casually, to study the lumber industry in any of its branches. Nor for his purpose was this necessary because of the detailed information on this subject that may be found in the U.S. Department of Commerce bulletin by Axel H. Oxholm that appeared early last spring, under the title “Swedish Forests, Lumber Industry, and Lumber Export Trade.” (Special Agents’ Series, No. 195, Washington, D. C., 1921). Readers of the LuMBreR WorLD REVIEW will recall that a comprehensive abstract of this bulletin appeared in the issue of June 10. Mr. Oxholm’s work is indispendable to any American visitor to the forests of Sweden. Those who desire to post themselves on the lumber industry of Sweden should not fail to consult it. It is full of meat. But in regard to the amounts exported a couple of quotations from Mr. Oxholm’s bul- letin are here in order. In a chart on page 22, he shows that in 1913, of the total exports, SMALL LOGS OF CHARCOAL WOOD BUNDLED FOR RIVER DRIVING preciation by the public of the value of forests and of forestry. This is of course accounted for by the high place that forest products have in the industries of the country, but it is sig- nificant that the great majority of the people so well understand the situation as to be will- ing to submit practically without question to the regulations that have been laid down with the purpose of keeping the forests on a basis of sustained yield. Like most other countries Sweden in the past made inroads into her forest capital. Under the program now in force she is living within her forest income and is in the way steadily to increase the amount that may be cut for local consumption and for ex- port. The writer of this letter is a forester and forest and lumber products ranked 26.54 per- cent, and pulp and paper products 17.76 per- cent; together a total of 44.3 percent of the exports of Sweden. Another diagram on page 171, shows that for 1913, pine and spuce made 99.3 percent of wood of all kinds exported; divided into classes as follows: rough lumber 64.1 percent, planed lumber 10.9 percent, round timber 11.2 percent, hewn 7.9 percent, firewood 5.9 percent. The countries of destination of Swedish tim- ber that headed the list in 1913, were Great Britain (564,700 M.Ft.B.M.), France (383,540 M.Ft.B.M.), Germany (246,159 M.Ft.B.M.) and Denmark (205,868 M.Ft.B.M.), with small amounts to other countries in Europe and else- (19) where. (Mr. Oxholm’s bulletin, p. 174). An English publication, “Statement prepared by the Forestry Commission for the British Em- pire Forestry Conference, London, July, 1920,” throws a side light on Sweden's export trade, in a table on page 38, which shows the quali- ties and values of unmanufactured timber im- ported into the United Kingdom for the aver- age of five years, 1909-13. The figures for the three countries that head the list, in value in pounds, are Russia, £10,814,000, Sweden, £3,775,000, Norway, #£1,395,000. At the present time Russia is, of course, eliminated as a competitor, but with the world- wide depression in business and the uncertain- ties resulting from abnormal exchange, the Swedish lumber trade is reported to be almost at a standstill; yards fully stocked and nc op- portunity to sell. But on this point tbe writer huntsmen, an interesting survival of which persists in the title carried by the forester today, “Jiigmiistare.” Incidentally it may be said that the name is still appropriate, for every Swedish forester appears to be a keen sportsman whose chief recreation is to get out with dog and gun. During my stay in Sweden I had the privi- lege of attending a hunt on one of the national forests, or “crown parks.” At Omberg Krono- park is located one of the seven schools for the training of men for the trade of ranger. During the year four days are set apart for hunting, when the student body, 20 men and their instructors, repair to the woods armed with shotguns and have a fine time in shoot- ing rabbits and foxes. Needless to say the days of the hunts are eagerly anticipated, and it so happened that our visit to Omberg just coincided with one of them. CHARCOAL WOOD RICKED FOR SEASONING, FROM FIRST THINNING is not prepared to speak. Rather let him re- turn to his own last, forestry. ORGANIZED FORESTRY WORK IN SWEDEN Organized forest work in Sweden divides roughly into two main classes, (a) that carried on directly under the Swedish Forest Service (Kungliga Domanstyrelsen), or under other branches of the government, like the State Forest School (Skogshégskolan), or the Forest Experiment Station (Statens Skogsforsdéks anstalt), or (b) that conducted under other auspices, especially by the local forest com- missions (Skogsvardsstyrelsen), or by the Swedish Forestry Association (Svenska Skogsvards f6reningens). The rational care of forests is no new thing in Sweden. The state has owned forests for over 700 years but in common with other European countries, the forests were regarded in early days as being of more importance for their game than for their timber. The early foresters were therefore essentially the king’s The plan is to post a dozen or so persons along a road, or trail, or line through the woods, while the rest of the crowd beats the brush and drives out the game. The beaters are thrown out in a skirmish line 30 to 50 yards apart and advance striking blocks of wood together and shouting. Occasionally a rabbit and less often a fox darts out of the undergrowth and if one of the hunters on the line is quick enough, the bag begins to ac- cumulate. Game was rather scarce at Omberg, but at the end of the day, when the party re- turned home, there were four large hares and three foxes, which was accounted a good kill. Anyway everybody concerned had a good time and felt the day to have been a decided suc- cess, In the seventeenth century real forest management began in Sweden, and I think it Was with a certain sense of Satisfaction that my guide at the forestry college pointed out in the museum a carefully drawn map that ac- companied a working plan made in the year 1638. A century ago the government sold large (20) areas of state forests, as did many of the other European countries at that time, but later, especially in the 70’s, the policy was adopted of acquiring state forest land with the result that at the end of the calendar year 1918 there were 11,800,000 acres (4,767,009 hectare. 1 hectare 2.47 acres) of crown forest (kronoparker), or, if there is included all the area administered by the Forest Ser- vice, a grand total of 8,711,750 hectare, or 21,118,023 acres. These figures are from the last available annual report of the Swedish Forest Service, that for 1918 (p.8). Besides the state forests proper, the “crown parks,” from which the income goes solely to the government, there are various classes of “controlled forest” which are managed by the Forest Service. It is unnecessary to go into details regarding these stands. They belong to the Established Church, to cities ing plans is an important part of the Forest Service program. This is done by men especially assigned to this duty. The job of the supervisor is to see that the plan is carried out and the forests under his charge properly handled. The chief forester at the head of the Swedish Forest Service is the Hon. Karl Fred- enberg. His title is “General Direktor.” He has held his post since 1905, during which time the Forest Service has made notable progress. Through the extreme courtesy of General Direktor Fredenberg, I had a most unusual op- portunity to see a number of the Swedish state forests and other places of especial interest. A member of the staff of the Stockholm office was detailed to accompany me on a two-weeks’ trip, Jagmastare Axel Schard, who'as holder of a Scandinavian-American Foundation fei- lowship, had spent 14 months in the United States, during a good part of which time he YOUNG STAND OF PINE IN CENTER DISTANCE. MALINGSBO, SWEDEN and communes, and to official and semi-official institutions and organizations. The point is that they are all administered, usually under definite working plans, by the government foresters. Sweden is divided into thirteen forest dis- tricts. Each district has a central headquar- ters, with an inspector and various assistants. Under him are the jiigmiistaren, or foresters, in charge of definite areas that may include a number of forests. The position of jag- miistare is about equivalent to that of supervisor in the United States Forest Service. Under him are forest rangers, who direct the work of the laborers employed on each forest. The Forest Service is managed from the head- quarters at Stockholm, where the staff is dis- tributed in a number of divisions, each charged with specific duties, both under area and sub- ject matter. One point of interest is that in Sweden the organization is strictly cen- tralized, questions of even minor import going to the Stockholm office for decision. The making and periodic revision of work- was in the western states. Thanks to General Direktor Fredenberg and to Mr. Schard my visit to Sweden was most instructive, as well as highly enjoyable. All the men in forestry work in Sweden are technically trained. The jiigmiistaren are all graduates of the State Forestry College. The course covers three years, but as a prere- quisite to entrance a man must have been graduated from the Symnasium, or as we should say high school, and also had about two years of actual practical work in the woods. .