NATIONAL ASPECTS OF FORESTRY 5 



throughout the civiHsed world. As regards Europe in 

 particular, one has only to examine the existing state of 

 affairs connected with forests in various countries, and it 

 is not difficult to find results which could only have been 

 brought about in the manner described. In Southern 

 and Central Europe large forest areas are only found in 

 the mountains, where the climatic conditions resemble 

 those of the cold temperate regions farther north. The 

 more mountainous the character of the surface, the more 

 favourable are the conditions for the natural preservation 

 of the forests. In some cases, this may be facilitated by 

 better climatic conditions, such as a heavier rainfall and 

 lower temperature, but the chief reason must be looked 

 for in the more scanty population, the reduced tendency 

 to cultivate or enclose the surface, the absence of winter 

 grazing, and, in various ways, the greater degree in which 

 the balance of nature has been maintained. In Northern 

 Europe forests cannot exist on mountain ranges above 

 a comparatively low altitude, and the larger natural forest 

 areas are chiefly in the lowlands. Here the climatic 

 conditions resemble in many respects those of the moun- 

 tain ranges farther south, especially as regards winter 

 temperatures. The severe winters of Russia, Sweden, 

 NorAvay, etc., in conjunction with a comparatively thin 

 population in many parts of them, have had much to do 

 with the preservation of the natural forests. A snow- 

 covered surface during the greater part of the winter 

 renders the grazing of farm live-stock impossible, and 

 limits the number of cattle, sheep, or goats to that which 

 can be preserved by artificial housing and feeding. Sum- 

 mer grazing, when vegetation is in full activity, is less 

 destructive to forest growth than that proceeding through- 

 out the winter, when a deficiency in grass must be made 

 good by browsing on woody growth. Possibly the pro- 

 longed survival of the wolf, the greatest natural enemy of 



