RF.VIKWS 671 



Rational forest manag^ement in a modern sense of the word has not 

 generally been practiced in Finland until recently. Particularly the 

 forests owned by private individuals show evidence of a lack of ra- 

 tional management, and the most valuable timber in these forests has 

 often been badly cut out. 



The following table gives an estimate of the division of forest lands 

 in Finland according to ownershij:) : 



Acres 



State lfi,042,000 



Cities and counties (communes) 452,000 



Lumber and pulp companies (5,919 000 



Private individuals 26,539 000 



Total 49,952,000 



The forests in private ownership are mainly in the hands of farmers, 

 landowners, and other individuals, and their timber supply has been 

 very severely drained in years past. These forests are, therefore, 

 usually in a very poor state. 



In contrast to these areas the forest lands in the hands of lumber 

 companies, pulp companies, and other wood-using industries are usually 

 very well taken care of. The largest companies have, as a rule, trained 

 foresters to look after their property, and the cutting is usually done 

 along scientific lines. These forests have been managed with the in- 

 tention of safeguarding the supply of raw material for all time to 

 come, and in order to attain this end considerable money is spent by 

 these companies for reforestation, improvement of the stands, draining, 

 etc. There is no cjuestion but that these companies are in a better posi- 

 tion to exploit the forests in a rational way than the small individual 

 holders, because the large companies can better afford to manage the 

 forests efficiently. 



The best forests in Finland are those in the hands of lumber and pulp 

 companies, and the majority of privately-owned forests are found in 

 southern Finland. There are several companies, each holding from 

 700,000 to 1,000,000 acres of forest lands. 



The forests owned by cities and counties and the State forests are 

 well managed and cut with due regard to the principles of forestry. 

 The cutting is very conservative and effected according to detailed 

 plans made in advance of each season. 



In southern Finland pine and spruce forests are considered mature 

 for cutting at about 75 to 80 years of age, in the most favorable cases. 

 In the central parts of the country the age for cutting is about 100 



