654 



AMERICAN FORES TRY 



ported by ox-carts or by motor truck to the railroad. The 

 average load in the case of a motor truck is three tons. 

 Years ago, charcoal was transported to market entirely 

 on mule back, each mule carrying a sack of one quintal, 

 which is equivalent to about 220 pounds. The slow 

 moving of a few mules, each with its heavy load of 

 charcoal on its back, is a common sight even today 

 throughout the mountainous sections of Italy. 



Prior to the war, this charcoal brought about two 

 dollars per quintal of 220 pounds, whereas during the fall 



THE ANCIENT SAW MILL 



Log yard at the old saw mill of Vallombrosa. This saw mil! was esfiH>- . 

 Iisned by Monks of the Benedictine Order several centuries ago and 

 is stiH in operation. In the winter when the water supply is sufficient 

 the mill is driven by direct water power, whereas in summer by 

 electricity furnished by a large power plant near Florence. 



of 1918, it was bringing $8.00 for the same amount. In 

 all of the above values, the normal rate of exchange, 

 that is, approximately five lire to the dollar, has been 

 used. During the war, the rate of exchange fluctuated 

 so greatly that this is the only fair basis for arriving at 

 approximate values. 



A great deal of experimental work in the replanting 

 of the Italian forests has been carried on at Vallombrosa. 

 Seven excellent nurseries, comprising about 20 acres, 

 have been developed, and they have an annual capacity 

 of about 1,000,000 plants. However, a good portion of 

 the area is devoted to experiment stations so that is not 

 a fair estimate of its total productive capacity. The prin- 

 cipal results of their experimentation is that silver fir has 

 been demonstrated to be the best tree for planting on their 

 higher mountain levels. It is especially desirable on 

 account of its rapid rate of growth, ease of planting, 

 freedom from insects and other diseases, the high quality 

 of the wood produced and the fact that it will grow in 

 dense stands and to large size, that is, it continues its 

 rapid rate of growth up to an age of ninety to one hun- 

 dred years. Norway spruce has been tried as well 

 as European larch and other species, but they have 



not proven to be nearly as successful as the silver fir. 

 The general practice is to retain the seedling in the 

 seed beds for two years, after which they are transplanted 

 into so-called transplant beds for a period of three 

 years. It is estimated that these five year plants cost 

 $1.20 per thousand to grow under normal conditions, 

 prevailng before the war. It costs from $4.00 to $4.80 

 for plantng alone so that the total cost runs from $5.20 

 to $6.00 per thousand for the total cost of reforestation. 

 The plants are placed in the cut-over forests or in the 

 open field one and one-half meters apart each way, where- 

 as pine is planted two meters apart each way. Rectangu- 

 lar planting such as we use in this country is not used 

 in Italy, the alternate method making each tree an equal 

 distance from every other tree being used. Planting is 

 done both in the spring and fall of the year, but for 

 general purposes, spring planting is considered the best. 

 March and April are considered the best months, whereas 

 in the very high elevations, on account of the frosts, 

 planting is done sometime as late as in May. When 



CORD WOOD IN ITALY 



Delivering cord wood in the city. The two-wheeled cart is the usual 

 form usea for delivering fuel wood and this was a common sight in all 

 of the Italian cities during the war. Prices of from $30 to $50 per cord 

 for fuel wood were received during the year 1918. 



chestnut is planted it is also placed two meters apart. 

 Beech has been regenerated entirely by natural means, 

 but the Italian forestry officials are planning to cut all 

 beech off at maturity or before and reforest with silver 

 fir. As the young trees develop the plans of management 

 call for an improvement cutting, that is to weed out the 

 more defective and inferior specimens and give the better 

 trees an opportunity for greater development and growth. 



OREGON'S SLOGAN CONTEST 



HPHE following slogan was awarded first prize out of 

 -*- a total of 1,150 submitted, in the recent fire protec- 

 tive slogan contest in Oregon : 



"Lumber, fuel, beauty, joy, 

 Forests furnish, fires detroy." 





