THE OUTLOOK OF THE WORLD'S TIMBER SUPPLY. 367 



reality, however, matters are far less roseate. In the first place, 

 the forest area includes enormous swampy tracts which produce 

 little or no timber ; then there are very extensive areas which are 

 thinly stocked with alder, birch, poplar, hornbeam, etc. ; so that 

 the area of really important forests is only a fraction of that given 

 above. Moreover, it is very unevenly distributed over the empire. 

 There are enormous tracts with no forests at all. In and about 

 the Caucasus we find considerable forests, but the bulk of the 

 important areas are in the north of the empire, that is to say, in 

 Finland, and in the adjoining provinces eastwards. It is from 

 these parts that the coniferous timber is exported, and for all 

 practical purposes these forests are of special interest to us. 

 Unfortunately, information regarding their yield-capacity in the 

 future differs very considerably, and it is not easy to arrive at a 

 final conclusion on the question. There can be no doubt about 

 a few points. The population of European Russia, including 

 Finland, is now estimated at 106,000,000, and it has, of late, been 

 increasing very rapidly. The consumption of timber and firewood 

 in a northern country like Russia is naturally very great; indeed, 

 in many parts of the empire it has been estimated at three tons 

 per head of population. If this is so, by far the greater part of 

 the forests is required for home consumption. Monsieur Melard, 

 whom I mentioned in the beginning of this paper, takes a most 

 gloomy view of the situation. He says that while the population 

 and industries are developing rapidly, the production of the forests 

 has fallen off in consequence of the great destruction which has 

 been going on during the nineteenth century, and he winds up by 

 saying : " When iu the middle of the twentieth century Russia 

 will have a population of 150,000,000, when her metallurgic and 

 other industries have attained the full development on which one 

 may count, her exports of timber will have ceased, and she will be 

 only too happy, if she then has managed her forests sufficiently 

 well to find in them the timber and firewood which she requires 

 for her own consumption." 



German experts, on the other hand, take a more hopeful view 

 of the situation. Professor Endres, at Munich, considers Monsieur 

 Melard's fears as exaggerated, and is of opinion that the resources 

 of Russia are much greater than is generally supposed. I am, 

 however, not aware that Professor Endres has personal experience 

 of the Russian forests. Professor Mayr, of Munich, on the other 

 hand, has lately spent some time in Russia, and given us an esti- 



