268 Denmark. 



The forest area, which -mitil 1820 was on the decrease, 

 has since that time increased steadily, and is espec- 

 ially now increasing through reforestation of waste 

 lands. 



At present the most intensive forest management is 

 practised in the State forest as well as in the communal 

 and private forest areas which are largely in farmers' 

 woodlots since the law forbids the union of small farms 

 into large estates. There is little communal property, 

 and large private estates are also rare. The State owns 

 somewhat over 21% of the forest area or 142,000 acres, 

 of which 60% is coniferous. Excepting in the beech 

 forest most of the timber is of the younger age classes 

 below 60 to 80 years, and it is anticipated that the cut 

 will have to be reduced, and the import of wood and 

 woodenware which is now over six million dollars in 

 value will have to be increased. 



Artificial reproduction is the most general silvicul- 

 tural practice except in the beech forest which is repro- 

 duced naturally after preparation of the soil and sowing 

 acorns for admixture at the same time, spending alto- 

 gether $12 to $15 per acre in this preparation. Since 

 1880 thinnings have been based on the idea of final har- 

 vest trees; they are begun in the twentieth to thirtieth 

 year and are repeated every three years, aided by prun- 

 ing. Then in each subsequent decade the return occurs 

 in as many years as the decade has tens. Especially in 

 the direction of thinnings the Grerman practice and even 

 theory is outdone, the thinnings being made severer and 

 recurring more frequently. 



More than a hundred years ago the State began the 



