Forest Conditions. 261 



accessible much of the interior mountain forest, yet a 

 large part of the inland area still remains inaccessible 

 and trackless. 



More than 75% of the country is waste land and only 

 3% in farms, leaving for the forest area 21% or hardly 

 20 million acres. The distribution of this forest area 

 is most uneven. The bulk and the most valuable portion 

 of it is found in the south-eastern comer around Chris- 

 tiania in eight counties, in which the forest per cent, 

 exceeds 40 to 50, with conifer growth (pine and spruce) 

 up to the 3,000 foot level. Again in the three counties 

 around Trondhjem a large and important forest area 

 is located at the head of the fjords. But the entire 

 western coast and the higher elevations are devoid of 

 valuable forest growth and the northern third of the 

 country (north of the Arctic circle) is mostly heath and 

 moors with only 7% wooded, mainly birch growth of 

 little commercial value. 



The commercially important forest area is, therefore, 

 locally confined and comprises probably not more than 

 one-half of the whole stated forest area. It is estimated 

 that one-half of the territory has to import its lumber, 

 one-quarter has sufficient for home consumption, and 

 the excess which permits exportation is confined to the 

 last quarter. This export, which amounts to around 

 18 million dollars (40% of the total export) is esti- 

 mated to represent only one-fifth or one-sixth of the total 

 cut, which is stated as about 500 million cubic feet, 

 while the Einnual growth is estimated at less than 350 

 million, showing considerable overcutting. 



Scotch Pine is the principal timber, with Norway 

 Spruce, more or less localized; oak, ash, basswood and 



