IO FORESTRY OV JAPAN. 



cho and those owned by the Imperial Household over 136,956 

 cko and those owned by the people over 1,689,515 cho. 



Forests in the Empire are found in all districts from 

 Formosa on the south to Karafuto on the north. Since the 

 country is extended from the north to the south in narrow 

 chain, the distribution of these forests varies according to the 

 geological relations, the topographical conditions caused by 

 the rise and fall of steep mountains running through the 

 various parts of the country, and the social connections 

 depending upon the density of population. With the excep- 

 tion of a few forests scattered on level grounds, the main forest 

 lands are found in various mountainous districts vertically 

 running through the central parts of the country. It will thus 

 be found that on the north, the great forests of Karafuto 

 meander along their way covering the three mountain systems 

 of the western, central, and eastern districts. Mountain ranges 

 rivctting the Hokkaido in all directions, form beautiful forests 

 running throughout the entire island. In Honshu, a chain of 

 forests rising from Mt. Hakkota passing through Mt. Iwate of 

 Riku-chu and Mt. Azuma of Usen, running along the boun- 

 daries of Shinano and Echigo, forms the forest of Kiso. A 

 branch facing toward the south forms a large tract of forest, 

 lands comprising Imperial forests of Mts. Fuji and Amagi. On 

 the south, a chain of forests takes its rise in the Kumano 

 mountain range in the province of Kii forming those found in 

 t!ie districts of Yamato and Yoshino. In Shikoku, a chain of 

 forests starting from the boundaries of Sanuki and Aw a it 

 covers the high ridges of Mt. Ishizuchi on the west, and 

 extends over to the province of Tosa. In Kyushu, Mt. Aso in 



