70 



dm-iion of gas for iron sm-hing, and that thus it may be possible to revive the 

 ol.l inm industry in some parts of India. Indian forest officers will do well to 

 visit- tin- Schonmunzacb glass works. 



The disposal of lar^c timber is greatly iacilitated by the numerous saw mills- 

 in the vadey of the Murg and other rivers, and most of the timber from the 

 Mur_; fore -;t is now exported in the shape of beams and boards. Of the principal 

 kinds of timber * 'Id spruce and silver fir command the same rates, while Scotch 

 pine -vi K -i-ally fetches a somewhat higher figure. 



Timber is cut during spring and summer. In forests like these with much 

 young growth under the trees, great care is necessary and is used, so as not to 

 injure tin- mass of seedlings and saplings on the ground. In dragging the timber 

 much attention is paid to this, and as a further safeguard the branches of the 

 standing trees are lopped before felling. This is dona by men who climb the 

 trees, with the aid of foot-irons, and who are paid at the rate of from 20 to 30- 

 pfennige a tree. A skilful man can lop ten to fifteen trees, thus earning from 2s. 

 to 4s. 6d. a day. Formerly the custom prevailed to lop the branches of trees 

 standing over young growth intended to remain on the ground so as to diminish 

 the shade. This practice, however, has of late years here been abandoned 

 because it was found that the lopping of branches made the trees unsound. 

 Through the whole forest are narrow dragging paths, some in their natural con- 

 dition, others levelled and built up. The timber is brought to the edge of these 

 dragging paths, and there the sale takes place! The logs are dragged generally 

 by horses, with or without the help of a pair of wheels, according to the gradient 

 of the path. 



A system of carting roads, however, is being steadily extended over the 

 whole forest, and the timber carts carry very heavy loads measuring up to ten or 

 twelve cubic metres. Under the present practice the stems are brought out as- 

 long as possible, provided they are sound, for it is found that the proprietors of 

 the saw mills pay higher rates when they can cut up the logs according to their 

 particular requirements. For timber work on the dragging paths, as already men- 

 tioned, as well as for carting, horses are generally employed, and from spring to- 

 autumn the roads are full of large timber carts, on which huge logs, up to 30 m, 

 in length, are carried down the valley. 



COPPICE UNDER STANDARDS NEAR KIPPENHEIM, IN THE KHINE VALLEY. 



The contrast between the unbroken forest of the Schwarzwald, interrupted 

 only here and there by stretches of field, not very productive, and the rich plains 

 of the Rhine valley bearing splendid crops, with luxuriant meadows on low 

 ground and extensive vineyards on t le hills, is exceedingly striking. In the 

 Rhine valley, between Freiburg and Oftenburg, one of the most fertile portions of 

 Baden, there is not much forest, but what there is produces large quantities of 

 most valuable material. Here are situated the forest districts of Kippenheim and 

 Ettenheim, which comprise the State and communal forests situated in the civil 

 district of Ettenheim. Kippenheim. where the Oberforster resides, is a large 

 village, situated at the foot of the hills, which rise into the Schwarzwald. Like 

 some of the other villages in this district, it has forests both in the outer hills 

 and in the Rhine valley. The produce of these communal forests is sufficient in the 

 case of this and other villages in the vicinity to cover all municipal expenses, so- 

 that the inhabitants have to pay no local taxes and no school fees. The forests 

 in the plains are of special interest,. and particularly those which belong to the 

 Kippenheim forest district. They form a compact block six kilometers long and 



