312 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
vary considerably. Some are very steep, and logs are let down 
these steep paths by means of ropes. 
As has already been mentioned, the population depends very 
much upon the work in the forests, and the wood-cutters work in 
“Rottes” or gangs of from eight to fourteen men each. The 
Oberforster sees that they are regularly supplied with work, and 
the felling is done by contract. The timber is marked by the 
Oberforster, who spends about forty days in the year at this 
work, and three or four of the principal men from the “ Rottes ” 
of wood-cutters accompany him. He walks through the com- 
partments, selecting the trees to be felled, and these are forthwith 
marked by the wood-cutters by a blaze on one side, and a stamp 
on the roots by means of the forest-hammer. The labourers do 
this work gratis, or at least it is part of their contract. As 
the logs are marked, the wood-cutters call out to what 
assortment they belong, and the Oberforster notes them in his 
book. 
Both summer- and winter-felling are practised. In November 
and December the cutters commence by felling the broad-leaved 
species—beech, maple, etc. Later on in the winter heavy snows 
very frequently prevent any work for some months, but if favour- 
able conditions exist, the felled wood is sledged to the waggon 
roads, and stacked there. In spring the sledging and dragging 
work in the compartments is suspended on account of the young 
growth, as this is more apt to be spoiled at that stage than when 
the sap is fully up. The heavy coniferous logs are felled in 
spring and summer, and they are immediately barked and cut 
into the best lengths, the longer the better. The parts yielding 
firewood are loosely stacked, to ensure their drying speedily. 
The bark of the silver fir is sold for firewood. ‘The bark of the 
spruce used to be sold for tanning purposes, but the demand is 
now so small that no market can be got for it for that purpose. 
The rough parts of the firewood are used for charcoal, and the 
better parts of it go to the paper-mills and for firewood for the 
villages. Spruce gives a finer and whiter paper than the 
silver fir. About the end of August, and during the month of 
September, the logs are all dragged out of the compartments 
to the various forest roads, and firewood and bark are transported 
on sledges. The headman of each “ Rotte” contracts with the 
Forstmeister, and they supply all their own tools, and conduct 
the work under the supervision of the forest guards. Sometimes 
