THE STATE FORESTS OF SAXONY. 43 



and experimental work has been carried on with reference to the 

 larvae of this moth and its diseases by Prof. Escherich in 

 Tharandt, and the results have been both interesting from a 

 scientific point of view and also useful in the practical work of 

 fighting the pest. 



Utilisation. — The dense population of Saxony (as compared 

 with some other timber - producing States in Germany) has 

 the effect of facilitating the sale of wood to a very marked 

 degree. A large and evenly distributed population renders 

 local conversion and utilisation on a large scale possible, and 

 this, by reducing the transport costs, means better returns for 

 the forests. Such are the conditions in Saxony, and the 

 favourable results are clearly reflected in the very flourishing 

 state of the forest finances at present. But it must not be 

 supposed that this degree of success is entirely the outcome 

 of the enterprise of a hard-working and commercially-minded 

 people. In no small degree is the result obtained due to 

 proper methods of management entailing equal annual supplies 

 of wood for the support of the industries concerned. 



Before the facilities for transport which now exist came 

 into being, the wood-converting industries, which are to be 

 found in many cases right in the heart of the most densely 

 wooded aieas, were entirely dependent upon local supplies of 

 raw material. Had not this raw material been obtainable in 

 regular quantities annually, it is probable that many of the 

 small factories which are now to be found amongst the forests 

 would never have been started. Supposing, for instance, that 

 a capitalist with ^^ 10,000 to invest wishes to start a wood- 

 pulp factory, his first step is to find where he can obtain a 

 sufficient regular supply of wood at a price which will render 

 the undertaking profitable. He knows that the State forests 

 are worked upon a regular system, and that every possible 

 encouragement will be given by the Government for the 

 establishment of a new industry, and the chances are he will 

 select a central position among several State Riviere for his 

 mill. First, however, he must ascertain from the past accounts 

 of the forests concerned, that the amount of wood he requires, 

 say 100,000 cubic feet, is annually put upon the market at a 

 price, say 2id. to 3d. per cubic foot on the average, which will 

 allow a good margin for return on capital. This can only be 

 done when woods are systematically managed, and thus it can 



