462 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



rarely exceeds 100 feet, while in the northernmost forests 60 or 

 65 feet is rarely exceeded. Birch, which is for the most part 

 reproduced by coppice, requires from eighty to one hundred years 

 to complete its most useful development, when it may attain a 

 height of 80 feet, with a diameter at breast-height of 5 feet. 



Yield. 



The compilation of forest statistics is still far from being com- 

 pleted, and accurate information on all points of interest and 

 importance is not available ; but it is stated that of the thirteen 

 counties or districts into which Norway is divided, one-fourth 

 have a surplus of wood to dispose of, one-fourth have not more 

 than suffices for their own use, while the remaining half of the 

 districts are obliged to supplement their own timber resources 

 by purchasing from others which enjoy a surplus. The annual 

 outturn of the whole country is estimated to be about 344 millions 

 of cubic feet, of which amount about one-fifth part is consumed at 

 home, the remaining four-fifths being exported. This outturn, 

 which represents only about 21 cubic feet per acre per annum over 

 the entire forest area, is believed to exceed that which is annually 

 produced by the growth of the forest crops. 



The coniferous trees suffice, generally speaking, to provide for 

 the wants of the country in the way of building-timber, fencing 

 material and fuel. The timber exported is either in the round 

 (spars, pit-props, etc.), or in the form of balks, boards, or cask- 

 staves. Of late years a good market has been found abroad for 

 made-up doors, windows and other builders' requisites. The 

 Norwegian spruce, when young, is relatively free from resin, and 

 is on this account much used for the manufacture of wood-pulp, an 

 industry which in some localities is carried on to such excess as 

 to threaten the very existence of the neighbouring forest crops. 

 Spruce bark is used for tanning leather. In many parts of the 

 country pine roots are used for the manufacture of wood-tar. 

 Birch-wood is used as fuel and for making many kinds of tools and 

 utensils ; the inner bark of this tree is employed for the tanning 

 of leather, while the outer bark serves for the roofing of houses ; 

 the leaves are given to cattle as fodder. 



The total value of forest produce exported in 1897, together 

 with that of the forest industries for the same year, is said to have 

 amounted to something short of £3,500,000. 



