MANAGEMENT OF SCOTS FIR FORESTS IN NORTH GERMANY. 187 
XIII. Management of Scots Fir Forests wn North Germany. 
By A. C. Forses, Farnham Royal, Slough, Bucks. 
The following outline of the management of Scots fir forests is 
based upon personal observations made in the districts between 
Berlin and the towns of Stettin and Stralsund, on the northern 
coast-line ; and although the area embraced is comparatively small 
when compared with that of which it forms a part, yet it contains 
one of the most richly wooded districts of the whole of North 
Germany ; and, so far as soil, climate, and geographical features 
are concerned, may be said to be perfectly representative of the 
region occupied by Scots fir in the north of Prussia. 
The general aspect of this part of the German empire cannot be 
called particularly picturesque, as no lofty mountain ranges stand 
out in bold relief against the sky, or form a pleasing background to 
the landscape, but still it cannot be termed monotonous in any sense. 
The surface is generally undulating, with large tracts of perfectly 
level, marshy land occurring frequently, and usually in conjunction 
with extensive lakes, some of which almost attain to the dimensions 
of inland seas. The geological formation belongs to the Post- 
Tertiary, forming a surface soil of white, fine, diluvial sand, almost 
entirely free from stones, beneath which lie extensive beds of marl 
and clay, and which account for the prevalence of the lakes. The 
rivers are not particularly numerous, but are all navigable for small 
craft for a considerable distance inland, and are connected by 
numerous canals. 
One of the greatest industries in a small way appears to be brick- 
making, for which the clay-beds provide abundant material, while 
extensive saw-mills exist in the vicinity of the water-ways. The 
land is entirely devoted to agriculture or forestry, the nature of the 
soil causing one or the other to predominate, according as it is good 
or bad; and the character of the ground can be pretty accurately 
surmised by the way in which it is utilised, totally waste ground 
being rarely met with. This probably accounts for the somewhat 
irregular distribution of the forest land over the whole area, many 
large tracts of country being almost treeless (with the exception of 
road-side trees), while others again are almost entirely covered with 
timber, shelter belts or small plantations being rarely seen, The 
practice of planting the road-sides with fruit or other broad-leaved 
trees is very common, and renders travelling in hot weather less 
fatiguing than it would otherwise be. 
