Forestry Conditions in Sweden. 57 



figure mentioned for 14 years pjevious has probably hardly 

 changed. 



Contested in the same measure as the amount of material for 

 domestic use were the figures given on the annual yield of the 

 Swedish forests. There are many pessimists who claim that 

 1,218 million cubic feet is much too high a figure for the annual 

 growth and there is much to be said in favor of their opinion. 



After thorough inspection and investigation, however, I should 

 count myself with those Swedish foresters who claim that the 

 annual yield should be estimated still higher. According to the 

 figures mentioned the annual use per acre of forest land is on 

 an average not more than 22.5 cubic feet.* It should be possible 

 to produce this result by a moderate degree of cultivation with- 

 out disregarding the unfavorable climatic conditions on the pro- 

 ductive capacity of the northern regions. The bulk of the 

 Swedish forest is situated in regions which can be conservatively 

 estimated at 35 to 40 cubic feet average annual increment. 



In a few years these questions, both important for the country 

 itself as well as its consumers and rivals, will be definitely settled. 

 Jaegmastare Wedholm has submitted to the Swedish Reichstag 

 a bill, proposing an estimate of the total forest area of Sweden 

 with reference to the amount of standing timber, increment, and 

 total cut, the work to be completed in the next three or four 

 years at a cost of about $50,000. 



This large task, which is similar to taking a businesslike in- 

 ventory, will be carried out, and the undertaking proves suf- 

 ficiently the serious attitude and interest with which the forest 

 preservation question is regarded in Sweden. 



Taking part in forest utilization are, the sawmills ; the wood- 

 working plants ; the charcoal industry ; the mining timber and 

 pulp export trade ; the population itself for domestic uses, such 

 as buildings and fuel. 



As a side issue grazing, especially of cattle and sheep, and of 

 a few horses, must be considered as a forest use. 



The wood export figures up to about 200,000,000 cubic feet 

 lumber and about 400,000 tons of wood products, with a value of 

 about $42,000,000 and $12,000,000 respectively. Besides this 

 about $14,000,000 must be considered as the value of wood 



* From the preceding figures the cut seems to figure out 30 cubic 

 feet. — Ed. 



