REVIEWS 567 



A minor criticism is that the book is probably the only volume of its 

 kind ever published without any page numbers. But such a minor 

 defect is obviously of small importance compared with the liistorical 

 value of the volume, although it might have increased the interest of 

 the men if a complete roster had been published in the appendix. 



T. S. W., Jr. 



Swedish Forests: Lumber Industry and Lumber Export Trade. 

 By Axel H. Oxholm, Trade Commissioner. Department of Commerce, 

 Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Special Agents Series. 

 No. 195 ; 281 pp. Price, 75 cents. 



Sweden occupies the leading position in the lumber world, according 

 to the report, not on account of the quality produced, but on account of 

 scientific forest management and efficient manufacturing and selling 

 methods. Fifty-one per cent of the country is comprised within the 

 55.000,000 acres of forests, of which 13,000,000 are public. Because 

 of the realization in Sweden of the supreme importance of forests in 

 the national life, stringent laws with regard to cutting have been adopt- 

 ed. A Swedish forest expert is quoted as saying that **the position of 

 Sweden as an independent nation and as a civilized country is contin- 

 gent upon the existence or non-existence of forests." 



During normal years before the war the exports from Sweden of 

 forest products aggregated $90,000,000, or 44 per cent of the total 

 exports. The Swedish government accordingly considers the perpetu- 

 ation of the forests; of such vital importance that no one is allowed to 

 endanger the future of the timber stands by reckless exploitation for 

 the sake of immediate profit. This point of view is so generally accept- 

 ed that no difficulty has been experienced in connection with the gov- 

 ernment's control of the cutting of timber on private lands. 



Because the cutting is thus restricted and it is a matter of necessity 

 to get the utmost value out of the cutting permitted, particular attention 

 is paid in Sweden to the elimination of waste in the forests. The high 

 stumps prevalent in America are unknown in Sweden. Top logs, too, 

 are not left in the woods. The closest possible attention is paid not 

 only to price but to the utilization of waste products in logging 

 operations. 



Strict laws govern the management of the Swedish forests, varying 

 only with difiference in climate. These laws have to do with cutting 



