66 TRAXSA-CTIOXS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



made responsible for damage caused by fire in this waj-. Until 

 they are compelled by law to compensate landowners for the 

 damage occasioned by such fires, there is little hope of their putting 

 themselves to much trouble to remedy the present unsatisfactory 

 condition of things. 



Before visiting this interesting country, the writer often 

 speculated as to how it was possible for timber merchants in 

 Sweden to land in our ports timber of the various classes at such 

 cheap rates. One of the reasons undoubtedly consists in Sweden's 

 numerous waterways. Xearly the whole of this large country is 

 intersected by lakes and rivers, so that lumber can be floated for 

 hundreds of miles at a very small cost. Her system of railways, 

 too, gives her an enormous advantage over our country. Narrow 

 gauge lines penetrate into the heart of all large forests wherever 

 they are too far removed from floating facilities. Owing to the 

 comparatively flat nature of southern Sweden, the lines can be 

 constructed at a much cheaper rate per mile than similar rail- 

 ways in our country ; and the rate per ton for the carriage of 

 timber on railways is also much cheaper than it is with us. By 

 taking full advantage also of their enormous and well-distributed 

 water-power for the working of machinery, the cost of con- 

 verting the timber is reduced to a minimum. Their machineiy, 

 too, is of the most modern and labour-saving type, as was 

 witnessed in the huge saw-mills at Gefle. There does not 

 appear to be much difference in the cost of labour between the 

 two countries, but any difference there may be is in Sweden's 

 favour. 



When summing up the experiences of our visit, we have 

 reluctantly to admit that we did not find the Swedish forests in 

 that perfect and well-managed condition which most of us 

 expected. The probability is, however, that those of us who were 

 making a foreign trip for the first time had allowed our imagina- 

 tions to form rather sanguine impressions of what we were to see 

 on first landing on Continental shores. When, however, we look 

 into the history of the country, and remember the comparatively 

 short time that has elapsed since Sweden took up the important 

 question of State forestry, we cannot but congratulate her on the 

 forward strides which she has already made. Everywhere it was 

 evidenced that not only the State, but also private proprietors, 

 were gi^ang a great deal of money and attention to the better 

 management of their woods. They have already travelled far in 



