A SKDTCH ON SWEDISH FORESTRY 791 



southern pine has a conic spreading crown while all the northern 

 trees are more cylindrical in shape, having also a better stem form. 

 This is thought to be nature's provision for protection against exces- 

 sive snow accumulation on the tree crown. 



Planting with the bore is done both in unprepared ground or in 

 spots loosened with a mattock. Both German and Danish methods 

 have been tried in the south where good soil will permit greater outlay 

 in regeneration. One finds here large forests having an artificial 

 origin ; there are tracts where numerous 70-year-old plantations are 

 to be found so that one can get a good idea of what results to expect 

 in artificial reforestation. The period just passed has been partly 

 marked by the fad of having as fine and as large artificially reforested 

 areas as possible, this question often taking most of a forester's atten- 

 tion. But it was a very fortunate "fad." It seems now that forest 

 culture has taken its place in the routine work and receives its limited 

 attention, but no more ; it is merely part of the business, just as logging, 

 driving, etc., and one only tries hard to get it done cheaply and well. 



PRESENT SITUATION 



The "woods business" in Sweden is marked with uncertainty for 

 the time being. Compared to the former American market, one can 

 say that prices here have always been pretty high ; yet optimism has 

 not been lacking in economic figuring ; a two per cent per annum price 

 increase is figured on. The opening of the new forest areas and the 

 changed conditions in the world's merchant marine might have its 

 influence here. Two more point? in their forestry policy are that one 

 tries to produce volume rather than quality, and that large dimensions 

 do not get much higher relative values in their economic figuring ; that 

 is, the tendency is for a shorter rotation. When the results of the 

 steps now taken are attained it is likely that the world's supply of 

 finer timber will not be so plentiful, virgin forests being then perhaps 

 nearly exhausted. Will the present theory still hold true? And will, 

 for instance, question and controversies like soil and forest rent be 

 cleared up? 



What Sweden has to ofifer in the way of forest and forestry prac- 

 tice is not as inconsiderable as one might imagine in reading opinions 

 expressed in America a few years ago. Sweden was said to be a 

 place where one could mostly see what should not be done. They 

 have at least a half century start on us and their failures and successes 

 should be particulary valuable to those interested in northern, more 

 especially northeastern, conditions. They are fortunately trying to 

 solve their difficulties in their own way, taking guidance from, but 

 not following blindly, the results and solutions of foreign countries. 



Tliose who examine the researches of Dr. Hesselman and investiga- 

 tions of other men at their experiment station will be impressed by 

 the scientific conscicnciousness and originality with which their work 

 is carried on. 



