145 



commence in early spring, before the last rains. But this is often diffi- 

 cult 5 the ground may be too wet, and if delayed till sufficiently dry the 

 baking of the late muddy soil prevents the growth of both seeds and 

 plants. 



The Karst region, ten miles long, and embracing twenty-nine square 

 miles, has but one small wood. A few bushes and alders scattered over 

 naked, stony fields, are the only subsisting representatives of a once 

 magnificent forest-growth. The soil has much strength, and if it could 

 be protected agaiust the destructive extremes of temperature, &c., it 

 would soon be covered with vegetation. Its dry seasons are, however^ 

 especially favorable to vine-growth. 



The leading kinds of timber indigenous to this region are the Turkey 

 oak, {Quercus cerris,) elm, ( Uhnus cami)estris,) and ash, {Fraxinns ornns.) 

 The last-named surpasses all others in tenacity of life under extremes 

 of drought. In the Gortzer Karst the hop hornbeam {Ostrya vulgaris) 

 and the common hornbeam {Carpinusbetulns) are found. Three varie- 

 ties of the maple, {Acer campestris, A-pseudoplatanus^ and A. platanoides,) 

 the linden, {Tilia grandifoUa,) and the red beech, (Fagus silvatica,) begin 

 at an elevation of 2,000 feet. Near Duino, on the coast, the holly-oak 

 {Quercus ilex) and the Celtis centralis are frequently planted in the 

 borders of the fields. Even on the poverty-stricken mountain-pastures 

 the locust {Eobinia pseud-acacia) and two species of poplar {Fopulus nigra 

 and P. pyramidaUs) hiive been successfuly grown. Of fruit-trees, the 

 walnut, {Juglans regia,) the cherry, {Prtinus avium,) and the pear, {Pyrns 

 communis,) succeed best. The first two grow along the roads. The 

 chestnut is very successful, especially near Volosca and Loverano. The 

 white mulberry (iliorHS aZ?>a) is widely distributed. Sumac yields con- 

 siderable material for tanning. 



The rapid rise in the price of fuel presents great temptation to exces- 

 sive chopping. Vine poles in 1870 were worth 3 florins per cental ; in 

 1872 the price was 7 florins. Charcoal is largely manufactured in Cas- 

 telnuovo. The Celtis australis, a small tree, is largely exported for 

 whip-handles and wagon-timber. It grows in the fence-corners, attain- 

 ing a height of 7 or 8 feet. Such a tree is worth in Trieste from 2 to 2i 

 gulden. In spite of the scarcity of wood-growth there is a considerable 

 export of fire-wood. The annual production of fuel in the Karst amounts 

 to about two and a half millions of cubic feet, principally oak and red 

 beech. 



Of districts outside the Karst the first embraces the higher mountains, 

 chiefly the bold and steep declivities of the southwestern part of the 

 Julian and Carnian Alps. Its average elevation is G,427 feet above sea- 

 level, and it is well watered by springs. Yet even here the destruction 

 of the forests has produced the same irregularity of rain-fall; the 

 streams in winter become torrents, while in summer destructive droughts 

 are frequent. The soil is especially favorable to conifers, but their 

 growth is restricted by merciless chopping and by the grazing of goats, 

 of which over 15,000 are kept in the mountains. The red beech mingles 

 with the pines, firs, and larches in the higher portions. Lower down, 

 the rock-maple, elm, and ash begin to appear, and still lower the oak 

 becomes the predominant type. The hazel and the barberry are com- 

 mon in the valleys. The land here is mostly in commons. Some small 

 pieces are owned by the government. It has been found that its sub- 

 division into individual proprietorships has been detrimental to the 

 growth of wood. On the crown-lands and in a few private domains, 

 forest-culture prevails ; but elsewhere, the same reckless destruction is 

 observable as in the Karst. Chopping is now forbidden during the 



