672 JOURNAL 01' FORESTRY 



or 120 years, in the southern parts of the Province of Uleaborg 120 

 to 150 years, and in the extreme north 200 to 250 years. By systematic 

 forest manaj^ement. the pulp companies expect to reduce the age of 

 maturity for cutting to about 60 to 65 years, but such trees would not 

 be suitable for sawlogs. 



There are very few virgin forests left in Finland on privately-owned 

 land. The majority of the virgin forests are in northern Finland and 

 are generally State forests. Timber from this section is often over- 

 mature, showing numerous defects, such as shakes, rot, and large loose 

 knots. From an economical standpoint it would be advantageous to 

 the country to have these virgin forests cleaned out, because better 

 growing conditions would be given to the younger growth and the 

 quality of the timber would be improved. 



Until very recently there have been practically no laws in Finland 

 limiting the cutting of private forests or any compulsory reforestation 

 of cut-over lands. Reforestation has been practiced only by few of the 

 very largest pulp and lumber companies on their holdings and by the 

 Government in the State forests. 



The government has reforested considerable areas of barren land 

 in the State forests. In 1914, 3,351 acres were reforested; in 1913, 

 2,473 acres, and in 1912, 2,684 acres. 



The cost per acre of forest culture in the Finnish State forests has 

 been given as follows : 



'Secdijiy: 



Clearing of land and harrowing $3.1.3 



Seeding 39 



Cost o f seeds 3.51 



Total $7.03 



Plcnitiiig: 



Clearing of land $6.26 



Planting 3.13 



Transportation of plants to field 3.90 



Cost of plants 5.86 



Total $19.15 



The above figures refer to the war period, when the cost of labor 

 was approximately 10 marks ($1.93 at par value) per day. Before 

 the war the cost of labor was less than half of this amount and the cost 

 of planting and seeding correspondingly lower. At the present time 

 the cost of labor is at least 100 per cent higher than the above estimate. 



