222 



FOKESTKY INVESTIGATIONS U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



I'er beat! of population, aucl comparing with the consumption in the United States, this 



becomes : 



Conxnmptwn of wood per i-ajiilo of population (cubic feet). 



a This refers to lumber or sawed material alone. 



Since the consumption by sawmills of large timber, particularly coniferous material, is still 

 increasing, it is clear that Germany has not nearly as much forest land as it needs, or else must 

 still improve greatly its methods of production. At present 2<i per cent of its saw timber, etc., 

 is imported. 



The following figures give an idea of the extent and distribution of the German trade in 

 woods and wood manufactures: 



Germany's trade in wood and wood manufactures, 1892. 



a Lumber. 

 b Pine logs. 



e Oak, etc., logs. 

 d Sawed lumber. 



e Largely rattan. 

 /Nearly all cork. 



;/ Largely ijmibracho. 

 ft Mahogany, etc. 



The prices paid by Germany have so far been very reasonable. Thus her imported lumber 

 cost in 1892 only $18.30 per thousand feet; lire wood only $6.50 per cord; flue hewn timber 

 (mostly hard pine in long pieces) $30 per thousand feet, etc. 



With the enormous resources in European Russia and Sweden, part of which are not even 

 organized as yet, there is no apprehension of rapid advances in prices and no likelihood of 

 scarcity of supply. 



FINANCIAL RESULTS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



Concerning the financial results of forest management only the records of the State forests 

 are accessible. It is clear that the income depends on the amount of timber cut and the prices 

 obtained. If, therefore, the yearly cut has been increased, in some cases doubled, by good man- 

 agement since the beginning of this century, the income naturally is doubled. To this increase in 

 amount of salable material there was added a general advance in prices, partly due to the 

 depreciation of money in general, but vastly increased by the improvements in transportation, for 

 which large sums have been expended, especially during the last fifty years. 



The financial results of the various Government forest administrations vary considerably, as 

 is natural, since market conditions vary much. It is believed that all these administrations are 

 less profitable than they might be, being managed with great conservatism, and less for greatest 

 financial result than for desirable economic results. 



The following table exhibits in a brief manner the results of this kind of management, the 

 figures referring to conditions in 1890 or thereabout. The record for the city of Zurich is added 



