O24 FORESTS OF RUSSIA. 
yet, as a whole, the German States, as Siemoni well observes, 
must be considered as in this respect the model countries of 
Europe. Not only is the forest area in general maintained 
without diminution, but new woods are planted where they are 
specially needed,* and, though the slow growth of forest-trees in 
those climates reduces the direct pecuniary returns of woodlands 
to a minimum, the governments wisely persevere in encouraging 
this industry. The exportation of sawn lumber from Trieste is 
large, and in fact the Turkish and Egyptian markets are in 
great part supplied from this source. 
Forests of Russia. 
Russia, which we habitually consider as substantially a forest 
country—which has in fact a large proportion of woodland—is 
beginning to suffer seriously for want of wood. Jourdier 
observes: “ Instead of a vast territory with immense forests, 
which we expect to meet, one sees only scattered groves thinned 
by the wind or by the axe of the mowjzk, grounds cut over and 
more or less recently cleared for cultivation. There is probably 
not a single district in Russia which has not to deplore the 
ravages of man or of fire, those two great enemies of Muscovite 
sylviculture. This is so true, that clear-sighted men already 
foresee a crisis which will become terrible, unless the discovery 
over the various inequalities of surface for three or four miles to the tanks on 
the railroads, and forced into them by steam-engines. The price of transport 
is thus reduced one-fifth. 
* The Austrian Government is making energetic efforts for the propagation 
of forests on the desolate waste of the Karst. The difficulties from drought 
and from the violence of the winds, which might prove fatal to young and 
even to somewhat advanced plantations, are very serious, but in 1866 upwards 
of 400,000 trees had been planted and great quantities of seeds sown. Thus 
far, the results of this important experiment are said to be encouraging. See 
the Chronique Foresticre in the Revue des Haua et Foréts, Feb. 1870. 
+ For information respecting the forests of Germany, as well as other 
European countries, see, besides the works already cited, the very valuable 
Manuale @ Arte Forestale of Siemoni, 2de edizione, Firenze, 1872. 
