Timber Resources of Turkey in Europe, 



A French writer, M. Bricogne,* has lately been at the pains to collect 

 a large amount of information relative to the forest products of the 

 Ottoman Empire, which is not without interest at the present 

 moment. 



Availing himself of the reports of M. Bzrozonski, late chief 

 inspector of forests in the vilazet of the Danube, and other presum- 

 ably reliable sources of information, M. Bricogne shows that the 

 reported wealth of European Turkey in timber — like other repoits 

 circulated from time to time respecting that unhappy country — must 

 be regarded with a more than ordinary share of reservation. The 

 natural capabilities of the country in a forestal point of view are 

 undeniable. Its diversity of surface, productive soil, and semi- 

 peninsular position fit it to grow the finest timber in Europe. 



Noble forests have been, and in some places still are ; but, with 

 few excejitions, the^ hand of the spoiler is everywhere seen. Ignor- 

 ance and greed have destroyed Nature's gifts ; and where valuable 

 timber yet remains, it is, as a rule, because it is too inaccessible to be 

 worth the trouble of reaching it. Differences exist between the 

 several mlazets or provinces, but the remark applies with more or 

 less truth to all. 



Bosnia (including Herzegovina) was of yore one vast forest, and 

 though sorely despoiled, still contains some of the finest oak and 

 beechen woods in Turkey. Bosnian oak, mostly the peduncled and 

 sessile-flowered kinds, with a sprinkling of Q. jEgilops, is not suited 

 for shipbuilding, but splits well. There is a considerable export 

 from the province, chiefly in oaken staves, deals, and firewood, the latter 

 mostly beech and birch. Most of the stave-wood goes to jNIarseilles ; 

 the deals into Paissia. During the six years 1868 — 1872, thirt}^ 

 millions of oaken staves, averaging 38 in. length, 4| to G in. in breadth, 

 and I to 1^ in. in thickness, were thus exported. Large numbers of 

 telegraph poles and railway sleepers are also cut, and over 18,000 tons 

 of wood are annually consumed on the line of railway from Salonica 

 as fuel, wood being found cheaper than imported coal. Bosnia is 

 rich in surface minerals, and amongst other causes of sylvan mischief 

 are mentioned what are known in France as " Catalan forges," aprimi- 



* J^crvc dcs Eavx tt Forits, July and August, 18/7. 



