REVIEWS 675 



less satisfactory. Comparing conditions in Finland and in Scandina- 

 via with those in other countries, where strong opposition is raised 

 against any control of private timber lands and their management, 

 it is interesting to note that the forest owners in Finland, as well as in 

 Norway and Sweden, have loyally accepted the restrictions regarding 

 cutting on their holdings, because they realize that they will be benefited 

 in the end and that the nations" timber supply will be safeguarded for 

 all times to come. 



Finland is one of the few countries in Europe that has a system of 

 forest fire insurance. A private company started in 1914 works on a 

 plan which is a combination of the Norwegian and German systems. 



The Finnish fire insurance plan covers the following four categories : 

 Categories No. 1, young forests with trees less than 5 inches in diame- 

 ter measured 18 feet from the ground; category No. 2, mature forests 

 with trees 5 inches in diameter and over at 18 feet from the ground; 

 category No. 3, both young and mature forests ; category No. 4. forest 

 products. Young forests may be insured for the standing trees alone 

 or the insurance may also cover the cost of reproducing the burned-over 

 areas of young forests. In the latter case the insurance covers only 

 stands 15 years of age or less. The insurance of forest products 

 covers logs, etc., during the time they remain in the forest. The insur- 

 ance covering standing forests includes damage done to the forest floor 

 by fire, if such fire impairs the soil for reforestation. 



The premium per $1,000 of insurance is as follows: Category No. 

 1, $1.25 to $1.75 for standing timber and $3.50 to $4 for reproduction 

 of burned-over forest lands; category No. 2, $0.75 to $1.20; category 

 No. 3, $1.10 to $1.50; category No. 4, $5 to $6. Special discounts are 

 given in districts having efficient fire patrol systems. In addition to 

 regular premium, an extra premium of 50 cents per $1,000 of insurance 

 is charged during the first year.^ 



Nearly all the larger Finnish sawmills have extensive timber hold- 

 ings. The mills generally use very conservative cutting methods in 

 their own forests. The larger mills employ forest experts and the 

 milling and logging are entirely separated. A careful plan, extending 

 through several years, is prepared, with due regard to the young 

 growth and the reforestation problems. The amount of cutting in 

 forests owned by the mills is largely dependent upon the prices of 



^ The Globe and Rutgers Fire Insurance Co. of New York offer a rate of IJ/2 

 per cent per annum on mature timber and ?, per cent per annum on young 

 growth and plantations. 



