240 Finland. 



army as their only compensation. They reverted to the 

 State and are rented for terms of 50 years upon con- 

 dition that the woods are to be managed according to 

 rules laid down by the State department, and special 

 inspectors are provided to supervise this work. This 

 system in vogue since 1863 at first met with opposition 

 on the part of the renters on account of the impractical 

 propositions of the department. At present the depart- 

 ment manages many of these woodlots directly, as well 

 as those which the clergy have received in lieu of emolu- 

 ments. 



Since 1883 a corps of forest surveyors has been occu- 

 pied in making working plans based upon diameter 

 accretion at the curiously selected height of 25 feet from 

 the ground. A commission was also instituted some years 

 ago to segregate forest and farm soils in the State 

 domain with a view of disposing of the latter pre- 

 paratory to improved management of the remaining 

 forest area. 



The State has also in a small way begun to purchase 

 absolute forest soils in the southern provinces with a 

 view to reforestation. 



The private forest areas, located in the more settled 

 southern portions are found mostly in small parcels 

 and in peasants' hands, although the nobility also owns 

 some forest properties, but the size of single holdings 

 rarely exceeds 1,000 acres. These areas are mostly 

 exploited without regard to the future, furnishing still 

 four-fifths of the large export, and according to com- 

 petent judges will soon be exhausted. 



Although attempts have been made from time to time 

 to restrict the use of private forest, practically little has 



i 



