68 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



PRIVATE FORESTS. 



The aggregate extent of private forests was 3,149,400 

 acres in 1892. In addition to the state and private for- 

 ests there are about 800, ooo acres of forests belonging to 

 separate towns and villages. The forests which are owned 

 by great landholders are managed on forestry principles. 

 These forests, however, only comprise a very limited 

 area, somewhat less than 400,000 acres. Most of the 

 private forests are the property of small landholders. 

 The average value per acre of private forests is somewhat 

 less than that of the state forests. The net income rate 

 varies widely. The data at hand are too few and too un- 

 reliable to admit of arriving at any conclusion with regard 

 to the average. Opinions vary as to whether the total 

 forest product of the country increases or decreases. In 

 general the extent of the private forests seems to be some- 

 what decreasing. This would, of course, also appear to 

 entail a decrease of the total forest product. Forest lands 

 are only allowed to be changed into agricultural lands 

 when proof can be furnished that the agricultural crop 

 may be expected to exceed in value the forest crop. Be- 

 tween 1886 and 1891 7,000 to 8,000 acres of private for- 

 ests were newly planted or sown. 



DENMARK. 



STATE FORESTS. 



The experience of a country which had adopted im- 

 portant forestry regulations almost at the very beginning 

 of the last century and which has successfully, through 

 tree planting, resisted the invasion of desolating sand 

 drifts from the sea shore must prove of much value. It 

 was, therefore, with a high degree of satisfaction that I 

 lately received from the Department of Agriculture of 



