CHIEF FIRE WARDEN. 85 



The Minister of Agriculture generally publishes a detailed 

 report on the administration of the forests every five or 

 six years. 



NORWAY. 



STATE FORESTS. 



The extent of the state and semi-public forests of Nor- 

 way is 2,587,500 acres. Of these, 837,500 acres are lo- 

 cated in the provinces of Tromso and Finmark; 140,000 

 in that of Norrland; 285,000 in North Drontheim, and 

 2 2 5,000 acres in South Drontheim and Romsdal, and about 

 397,500 acres in Hedemarken. The prevailing kind of 

 trees are pine (pinus sylvestris Z,.), spruce (Abies excelsa 

 D. C), and two species of birch. The average estimated 

 value of the forest land is 12.70 an acre. The annual 

 aggregate expense of administration is about $108,000, 

 and the annual aggregate revenue varies from $60,000 to 

 $67, 500. The number of acres annually sown or planted to 

 forest varies from 150 to 175 acres. Reforesting is almost 

 entirely effected by natural seeding from standing trees, 

 and, when artificial culture is employed, by planting trees. 

 The crop of forest production is periodical, and depends 

 partly on the market prices of lumber. The forest ad- 

 ministration tries to prevent the yearly average yield 

 exceeding the net increase of the forest. Cutting must 

 in part depend on the demand. Where it does not pay 

 to cut smaller trees, the mature ones are principally cut, 

 while at the same time, as far as possible, diseased and in- 

 jured trees, as well as such as would hinder in the growth, 

 are removed. Where, on the other hand, trees of smaller 

 size can be profitably sold, small blocks are cut clean in 

 order better to promote new growth. 





