STOXE, GRAVEL, kc. 577 



2. Mode of Utilization. 



Stone is obtained either by quarrying the mountain-side, or by 

 collecting boulders or flint-nodules from the surface of the ground. 

 From a sylvicultural point of view, permanent quarries are 

 greatly preferable to the employment of boulders, as the area 

 taken from the production of wood is then of limited extent and 

 more easily controlled : the growth of wood being permanently 

 excluded from the area, no question of indirect injury to the 

 forest can arise. Direct injury to the forest may, however, occur 

 in quarrying — in the experimental search for suitable localities 

 for a quarry ; the loss of wood production on areas AA'hich are often 

 extensive ; the damage to roads, and occasionally the increase in 

 forest offences owing to the presence of the quarry-men in the 

 forest. 



The quality of stone from the same geological formation may 

 vary considerably in different parts of the same mountain-side ; 

 hence several experimental quarries are frequently commenced 

 and eventually abandoned. This causes loss of a considerable 

 area for wood-production, as when the soil is covered with fresh 

 unweathered rock it is often impossible to restock it with trees. 

 Even when a workable quarry has been started, fairly large areas 

 are often required for deposit of the refuse stone, and on steep 

 slopes the latter often accumulates in long strips down the 

 valleys, as in the Siebengebirge. 



This nuisance may, however, be improved by good regulations 

 and confined within reasonable limits. It is therefore indispens- 

 able that not only the quarry itself, but the area on which refuse 

 maybe thrown should be carefully demarcated. Forest offences by 

 quarry-men, who are sometimes imperfectly acquainted with the 

 limits of mine and thine, cannot be altogether avoided. Con- 

 siderable damage is also done to the forest roads, no traffic being 

 more ruinous to them than that of stones from quarries. The 

 latter are not usually important enough to warrant the construc- 

 tion of roads specially made for them alone ; hence the nearest 

 forest road is used, and if the expense of its maintenance falls 

 exclusively on the forest owner, this may cost him more than he 

 obtains from the stone-quarry. In such cases, a condition 

 should be entered in the lease of the quarry for payment by the 

 lessee for maintaining the road in good condition. 



VOL. V. p p 



