112 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



which might be based any objection to the truth of the 

 allegation. 



I may mention that there are numerous factors entering 

 into the determination of the proportion of woodland to 

 the meadow and arable ground in different localities which 

 is most conducive to the production of the best crops, and 

 many of these factors are subject to very great variation. 

 We have general statements of the relative proportion 

 of these existing in most of the countries of Europe. 

 But this is not enough. The woodlands may happen 

 to be mostly or all in one district, and the meadow and 

 arable land in another. We have, in several successive 

 reports issued by the Agricultural Department of the 

 Government of the United States of America, statements 

 of the relative proportion of them in different States of 

 the Union; and along with these also reports of the 

 relative proportions of them in the different counties or 

 townships of these States. These statements promise to 

 supply data of considerable importance in determining 

 some one or more of the variable quantities entering as 

 factors into the determination of the general question. 

 But from the accomplishment of the determination of 

 this we are still very far. In the absence of this we may 

 gratefully accept as contributions towards the solution all 

 general observations which have been made, and amongst 

 these may be included those I have cited in regard to 

 extensive partial clearings of the forests in many districts 

 of Finland being favourable to agricultural operations 

 there. 



It is not without due consideration that the practice of 

 Svedjande has been continued in Finland. 



On 27th July 1865 a Commission was issued to three 

 Commissioners named, to enquire into the state and con- 

 dition, the extent and the capabilities of the Crown forests 

 in the Grand Duchy, the management of these and the 

 administration requisite for the development of their 

 resources. These Commissioners gave attention to this 



