NOTES ON CONTINENTAL FORESTRY IN 1906. 73 
in one mass, and it would then be a remarkable mixture of all 
kinds of indigenous and exotic trees of an ornamental character. 
In the streets of Paris wood-paving continues to increase rapidly, 
and in 1904 over 20 per cent. of the total roadway had been 
paved with wood-blocks. Along with other merchandise, wood 
brought into Paris is subject to payment of oc¢roz duties, which 
have been raised considerably for wrought wood during the 
past year. For rough unfashioned hardwoods the duty is 11°20 
francs per sttre, or about 3d. a cubic foot, while for wrought 
and fashioned wood it is 13°30 francs, or over 34d. a cubic foot. 
Softwoods are somewhat less heavily taxed; but these imports 
must increase the cost of building very considerably. In Britain 
we escape such imposts, although this only means that the taxes 
levied by our municipalities are based on other foundations and 
collected in a different manner. 
GERMANY. 
The German forestry journals contain, as usual, a wealth of 
scientific information. But, also as usual, there are a great 
many papers of a more or less purely mathematical nature. 
For more than thirty years there has been constant wrangling 
about increment, valuation of soil and crop, etc., all involving 
very learned-looking algebraic formule. Viewed from a practical, 
common-sense point, there is far too much of this psewdo-screntific 
hair-splitting in the German forestry journals, involving bitter 
argumentation as to the application of the financial theory to 
the problems of sylviculture. In practice the financial theory 
is adopted by every State in its forest conservancy. The main 
objects of the prescriptions laid down for management are—(1) 
conservation, and (2) the realisation of the largest net income 
obtainable consistent with due conservation, and the attainment 
of the various national-economic objects included under this 
comprehensive term. This seems completely lost sight of when 
the highly-trained German foresters take pen in hand to indulge 
in pseudo-scientific paper warfare, and to wrangle about com- 
parative trifles. Hence many of the learned articles are of little 
or no practical value to the forester, and especially to the British 
forester ; and consequently that which may interest and aid him 
most has to be looked for chiefly in the discussions raised at 
local meetings, and in reports made about results attained in 
different portions of the German empire. 
