STATE AND OTHER FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



33 



Climate. 



The climate is characterised by long, severe winters, and'hot, 

 but short, summers. Rain is abundant, and during spring and 

 summer violent storms occur. 



[Pfu'!', ir. c. o. 



ONE OF THE NUMEROUS LARGE SILVER FIR AT CELLES, VOSGES. 



Crop. 



The crop contains the following percentages of species : — 



Percentage. 

 Silver fir, . . . . .90 



Beech, with a few spruce and Scots pine, . 10 



Beechwood is used only for fuel, and most of the silver fir 

 is extracted in butts and sawn up at the saw-mills in the valleys 

 below the forest. The silver fir attains fine dimensions, many 

 trees being 11^ feet in girth at chest-height and 130 feet high. 

 One tree measures 13-^ feet in girth and is 140 feet high. 



