Forest Conditions. 379 



of silvicultural importance, and not more than 10 or 13 

 species form the basis of forest management and of the 

 lumber trade, which requires some two billion cubic feet 

 annually, and supports an export of over six million 

 dollars. The value of the total cut was, in 1907, placed 

 at over 17 million dollars, of which six million was to 

 the credit of the State Treasury. 



In the tropical districts, bamboos form the main 

 staple ; in the subtropical region, the most densely popu- 

 lated and hence also almost forestless, the broadleaf 

 evergreens, es|)ecially several species of oak, furnish de- 

 sirable fuel wood, and two species of pine are most valued 

 for timber, one, the Red Pine (P. densiflora) extending 

 its realm rapidly over waste areas; camphor tree and 

 boxwood furnish ornamental wood. 



The region of temperate forest furnishes, out of over 

 60 species, some 14 conifers and 19 broadleaf trees of 

 value, the. former ^mainly of the cedar tribe, with 

 Crypf&fii^f^itlfWponica the most widely used, while of the 

 broadleaf species, which occupy more than 50 per cent. 

 of the forest area, Zelkowa Keaki, of the elm tribe, a 

 chestnut, a beech, several oaks, a walnut, and an ash 

 count among the most useful. 



Spruce, Fir, and White Birch are the trees of the 

 northern forest. 



Mixed forest forms 45%, broadleaf 25%, conifer 

 21%, and 9% is rated as blank or thinly stocked. 



The forest area, which, over the whole, covers more 

 than 59% of the land area, or around 58 million acres 

 (1^ acres per capita), is quite unevenly distributed ac- 

 cording to topography and population, being mostly con- 

 fined to the mountain ranges and hills which form the 



