FRENCH FORESTS IN THE WAR ZONE 785 



specimens of silver fir. Many of them February, 1902, for example, a severe 



are 11J/2 feet in circumference at breast- storm blew down 292,500 cubic feet of 



height and 130 feet tall, while one is timber and emphasized strongly the 



13J/4 feet in circumference and 140 feet necessity of substituting the selection 



tall. In the best parts of the forest the for the shclterwood system of rut in 



older stands yield 7,000 cubic feet per in the mountains. 



acre with a money value of $1,000. The forests described briefly in this 

 For a time the forest was managed article have since the war began played 

 under the shelterwood system, but an important part in the operations of 

 serious windfalls showed that this sys- both sides. Offering, as they do, an 

 tern was not suited to mountain condi- effective and very necessary screen 

 tions, and it has now been superseded from the vigilant airmen, it has been 

 by the selection system. considered of marked advantage by 

 Farther south in the Vosges Moun- commanders of the armies, to hold them, 

 tains lie the communal and state forests They are more easily defended than open 

 of Gerardmer, comprising respectively country, the trees and underbrush are 

 2,359 and 11,897 acres. The former of immense service in making entrench- 

 has 58 per cent of Norway spruce, most- ments and in blocking roads during a 

 ly planted, 40 per cent of silver fir, and retreat, and they have been used where- 

 2 per cent of Scotch pine; while the ever possible for masking artillery, 

 latter has 50 per cent of silver fir and Military men assert that forests and 

 25 per cent each of Norway spruce and woodlands have been of greater prac- 

 beech. One tree, known as the Geant tical service in this war than ever be- 

 Sapin (giant fir), has a circumference fore, chiefly owing to the protection 

 of 143/2 feet, a height of 157 feet, a they afford bodies of troops from spy- 

 volume of 1,095 cubic feet, and is ing airmen who direct artillery fire on 

 valued at nearly $135. Curiously the enemy's positions, 

 enough the beech is particularly abun- Hence it is certain that any forests or 

 dant at high altitudes, and near the top woodlands within the fighting zone will 

 of the Hohneck occur pure stands of be an objective for opposing corn- 

 stunted beech with an occasional dwarf manders, and that these forests and 

 silver fir. The general elevation, from woodlands will, during the progress of 

 2,000 to 4,000 feet, is considerably the war, continue to be the scenes of 

 higher than that of the forest of Celles, hard-fought engagements, 

 and windfall is more frequent. In 



Wood Preserving Pointer 



Recent experiments indicate that round timbers of all the pines, of Engelmann spruce, 

 Douglas fir, tamarack, and western larch, can be readily treated with preservatives, but that the 

 firs, hemlocks, redwood, and Sitka spruce, in the round, do not take treatment easily. This 

 information should be of value to persons who contemplate preservative treatment of round 

 posts, poles, or mine props. 



