FORESTRY COMMISSIONER 109 



Northern Russia the diameter of coniferous trees, the pine 

 and fir tree, sent to the market at Archangel and obtained 

 from the provinces of Archangel and Vologda, varies from 

 14 inches to 15^ inches breast high, while trees of 21 

 inches and even 26^ inches in diameter are found. The 

 average diameter of oak trees is also difficult to establish , 

 but it may be fixed at 15^ to 21 inches, while gigantic 

 oaks are found having from 43^ to 52^ inches in dia- 

 meter breast high. 



Question 3. Explain briefly the way in which the state 

 sells its standing timber? 



Notwithstanding the growing importance which the 

 exploitation of forests has taken in Russia it rarely occurs 

 that the proprietors manage their own estates; the forests 

 are generally divided into small lots and sold to the 

 highest bidder. The sale of forests belonging to the 

 Domains and the Imperial Cabinet are generally adver- 

 tised for sale, six months in advance. The bidders present 

 their offers in sealed envelopes which are opened on a day 

 fixed for this purpose in their presence. They may make 

 bids for a number of lots or for the whole forest, depositing 

 from 10 to 20 per cent of the contract value as guarantee 

 for the proper execution of the contract. 



The party who has made the highest bid receives the 

 permit to cut the trees, and, if he deposits the entire value 

 of the contract, he receives the permit to carry away the 

 timber. The trees are cut down for the most part in 

 Russia from October 28th to March 28th. Hand labor is 

 abundant in the north of Russia, where forestry consti- 

 tutes the main resource of existence of the population, as 

 well as in the central and western provinces, where the 

 peasants have no other winter labor. Labor is paid by 

 tree or beam or rafter, or by the fathom for wood to be 

 used as fuel. The average day costs from 45 to 50 copeks 



