252 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
TIMBER-SUPPLY FROM SWEDEN. 
In the Zransactions (Vol. IX. p. 337) is published an article on 
* Anticipated Curtailment of Timber-Supplies from Sweden,” and 
as I find that the author has in some way over-estimated the 
influence of the law referred to therein, I beg to give the 
following contribution to the subject. 
It is true that in the northern part of Sweden (Norrland) the 
law of the 27th April 1906 forbids the taking up of ground 
by saw-millers (or other industrial companies) to a_ greater 
extent than is necessary for building sites, timber depots, etc. 
This law became necessary as the great companies more and 
more monopolised the ground, whereby our independent farmer- 
class in Norrland threatened to diminish to an alarming extent. 
Before the law was passed the companies purchased with ease 
large farms and woodlands—generally very cheap—and the 
farmers having spent the money they received in payment, 
awoke to the fact that they were without either money or home. 
Of course the farmer who sold his ground very often had the 
chance of becoming a tenant of the purchaser, but he thereby 
entered into a not very encouraging dependence on the com- 
pany; and as the principal concern of the company was 
naturally its timber-business, and, as a rule, it paid very little 
or no regard to agricultural interests, the farmer sooner or later 
got tired of it, gave up farming altogether, and either betook 
himself to some other industry or, unfortunately, emigrated. 
Since the passing of the law, the farmer can, as before, sell 
his timber, but he has greater difficulty in selling his land and 
home, and it is our hope that he will find it by and by more 
profitable to keep his farm and try to improve his agriculture. 
As our forestry laws have made the regeneration of our woods 
pretty safe, the farms have to be well kept up in forestry as well 
as in an agricultural way, and we shall preserve, I hope, for all 
time, a proprietary, independent, and happy farmer-class even 
in the northern parts of Sweden. 
As for the influence of the law on the export of timber from 
Sweden, I am sure it will not cause a decrease but rather an 
increase. The exporting companies can even now, without any 
restriction, supply their timber wants by purchase from the 
farmers or from the government. The law in question will 
not, therefore, bring about a curtailment of timber-supplies to 
