256 FOEESTRY IN LITHUANIA. 



should give rise to serious apprehension. The transport of 

 the wood from the forests to the rivers, which is made by 

 log waggons during the snows and frosts of the winter 

 season, is attended with increased difficulties and cost 

 when the winters are usually rainy, which is quite 

 common ; and the transport by water is also difficult 

 on account of the shallow ness of the waters and the 

 strength of the currents ; and in addition to this it is 

 peculiarly difficult to safely run the rafts which are con- 

 structed to suit the special navigation of the streams. 

 The large timbers are bound together and form the raft 

 proper. On these are then placed laths, staves, clapboard, 

 &c. It is said the manufactured stuffs brought to market 

 in this way are limited in quantity. This is to be 

 regretted, as persons who are acquainted with the interior 

 of Russia state that it would be much to the interest of 

 the proprietors if they would prepare on their places in 

 the interior the greater portion of the flooring, laths, 

 deals, scantling, &c., as it is well known that large 

 quantities of timber useful for these purposes are left to 

 rot. It is also stated that the debris left by the loggers 

 in the pine forests might be profitably distilled. But to 

 bring about such necessary improvements and progress, 

 the interior must have the benefit of better methods of 

 communication with the markets than by the inefficient 

 and tedious ratting system. 



' The rafts are formed on the ice before it begins to 

 break up, in order that advantage may be taken of the 

 first rising of the waters. When this occurs the rafts 

 usually arrive at Riga from eight to fifteen days thereafter. 



' During the period above mentioned, from 1871 to 182, 

 there were exported from Riga 87,377,512 pieces of timber 

 and lumber, or an average of 7,281,456 pieces per annum. 

 The progress made in this trade since 1871 is shown by 

 the fact that in that year only 4,542,155 pieces were 

 exported ; whereas, in 1882, 9,184,199 pieces were exported. 



' The total value, in silver, of the wood exported in that 

 time was 122,342,708 roubles ; a yearly average of 



