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FORESTRY INVESTIGATIONS U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Though largely stocked on sandy soils and composed of pine and other conifers, there are no 

 forest fires reported for the year. The administration of forests is in the hands of " Eevierfoerster," 

 corresponding to the Prussian " Oberfoerster," who prepare the plans and execute them, being 

 assisted by a body of subalterns. The district of a Mevierfoerster covers about 10,000 acres of 

 forest, while the range or "hut" of the forest guard is generally about one-tenth of this. These 

 guards also serve as foremen in all cultural and felling operations, but the Eevierfoerster is 

 supposed to keep fully informed on all details and preserve accurate record. Besides their duties 

 as State forest officers, it is expected that these men also keep themselves informed as to the 

 condition of private and other forests. 



BADEN. 



In this intensively cultivated little State, with a total area of only about 3,720,000 acres, 

 supporting a population of 1,656,000, the forests occupy over 37 per cent of the entire land surface. 

 Tlie forest area has increased between 1880 and 1895 by over 50,000 acres, being in the latter 

 year 550,891 hectares, or about 1,360,000 acres. These forests were owned as follows: 



The forest policy of Baden has been conservative and there is no State in Germany where the 

 general conditions of the forests are better. Since all municipal and corporation forests are under 

 direct State control, being managed by the State forest authorities, about 910,000 acres, or over 

 CO per cent of all forests, enjoy a careful, conservative treatment, which insures to them the largest 

 possible return in wood and money. But even the private forests are under the supervision of 

 the State authorities, and though the private owner may use his forest very much as he pleases he 

 can iTi no way devastate or seriously injure it. Clearing requires a permit, also a complete clear- 

 ing cut, which latter is permitted only if the owner guarantees the reforestation of the denuded 

 area within a given time. Bare and neglected spots in forests must be restocked, and failure of 

 private owners to comply with the forest rules and laws leads to temporary management of the 

 forest by the State authorities, such management never to continue less than ten years. Of the 

 State forests there are about 93 per cent timber forest with a rotation of eighty to one hundred 

 and twenty years and only 7 per cent coppice and standard coppice intended to produce tanbark 

 and firewood. Of the corporation forests about 83 per cent are timber forest, so that of all the 

 forests under State management about 85 per cent are timber forest managed on long rotations 

 and furnishing large returns. 



Of the State forests, 21 per cent are hardwoods, with little or no conifers; 30 per cent are 

 mixed forests, hardwoods, and conifers in about equal parts; 49 per cent are coniferous forests, 

 the bulk being stocked with spruce and tir, while only about 4 per cent of the total is stocked with 

 pine alone. 



Full and accurate statistics existing only for the State forests, and, as far as the annual cut 

 is concerned, for corporation forests, the following figures apply only to about 60 per cent of the 

 forests of the country. 



The cut for 1894 was in 



