PERIODICAL LITERATURE 

 FOREST GEOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION 



Regarding Siberian forests little reliable infor- 

 Siberian mation is at hand ; hence such notes as Arnould 



forests furnishes on a section, namely, the province of 



Transbaikalia, are welcome. 



The province, located in South Siberia, east of Lake Baikal, fronting 

 on Manchuria, is mountainous, with altitudes not exceeding 5,000 feet, 

 the mountain chains (Jablon Range) forming the divide between the 

 Amur and Lena rivers, running northeast to southwest, forming nar- 

 row steppe-like valleys fit for grazing. 



The forests cover, with 80 million acres, about 65 per cent of the 

 territory and belong mostly to State and Crown — one-eighth to the 

 Cossacks and an insignificant share to the peasants. The population is 

 less than one to the square mile — mostly herders, hunters, and fisher- 

 men. The principal species are Pinus sih'estris (60 per cent on north 

 slopes up to 3,000 feet, and at high altitudes ccmhra (10 per cent) and 

 Larix dahnrica (25 per cent). In the valleys around Lake Baikal, and 

 also in mixture with the pines^ Abies sibrica and Picea obovata form a 

 small part of the forest cover. Broadleaf species are represented by 

 white birch, aspen, Populus suaveolens on the brules ; as underwood, 

 Alniis fnitricola and several other small trees, among them a number 

 of willows. The conifers reach in 150 to 200 years heights of only 63 

 to 80 feet and diameters of 12 to 18 inches, the larger figures for the 

 Scotch pine. 



Only the forests along the one railroad and navigable rivers are ex- 

 ploited, and much, of course, is burned. Most of the timber cut goes 

 to railroad construction, boat-building, and military barracks and coal 

 mines. 



The forest administratioii is to sell at auction at an upset price, but 

 in the usual absence of bidding out-of-hand rates are made at the esti- 

 mated price or at a discount, i)rices varying with location (accessi- 

 bility). The prices run for pine and larch from one-half to two cents 

 per cubic foot ; fir and spruce even less. If standing timber is sold, this 

 is done by diameters at base ; a 9-inch tree might be 30 cents, then an 

 18-inch tree would be $1.20. a 36-inch tree $5.50 — an increase of 10 per 

 cent per "verstock." Fuel wood sells at 20 cents to $1 per cord, accord- 

 ing to location. 



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