FORESTRY COMMISSIONER. 55 



of the pines (only 3 per cent). The balance of 4 per cent 

 is occupied by alder, linden, maple, oaks, elms, aspens, 

 willows, etc. It appears from these figures that the Aus- 

 trian state and fund forests consist of coniferous woods to 

 the amount of three-quarters and of hard woods to the 

 amount of one-quarter. 



In the Alps spruce reaches up to an elevation of 2,000 

 meters (or 6,562 feet), and in the Karpath mountains to 

 an elevation of 1,500 meters (or 4,921.5 feet). It forms, 

 especially on the high mountain ranges, pure forests in 

 many cases. However, it is often found mixed with other 

 conifers and with hardwoods. In the very highest moun- 

 tains it shows a poor growth, short boles and bad form, the 

 diameter increasing rapidly from the root to the top. The 

 branches are running down to the ground and are covered 

 with lichens. Spruce thrives best on slightly sloping 

 ground protected from high winds, where the underlying 

 ground is a sandy loam formed from slate. Here the tree 

 shows long, straight and clean boles. However, spruce is 

 found thriving in almost all situations. 



Silver fir (Abies pectinata] is mostly found mingled with 

 beech, horn-beam and spruce. It does not run as high 

 up in the mountains as the spruce will do. However, it 

 is found in the Karpath mountains at an elevation of over 

 1,500 meters (or 4,921.5 feet). Pure forests of fir are 

 found only in a few places (Vienna forest, Karpath moun- 

 tains and Krain). 



Larch (Larix Europcea) is scarcely ever found forming 

 pure forests. Its favorite ground is an eastern and 

 northern slope where spruce is the predominating species. 

 Under these conditions it rises as high up as 2,200 meters 

 (or 7,218.2 feet). Larch is thriving splendidly on cal- 

 careous and sandy loam, especially on well shaded slopes. 

 Larch avoids wet, sunny, and such localities which are 

 exposed to rough winds. 



Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) is found in the Alps and 



