FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 37 



Forests in this zone, with the exception of Hokkaido and 

 Karafuto, find their existence on the summit of high mountains. 

 The soil in such places being bad, and suffering damages from 

 the fierce wind, their growth are impeded, not producing 

 valuable timber. But in Karafuto and Hokkaido, the thickly 

 wooded conifers cover the mountains and hills. There are 

 deep forests to which no human footsteps have as yet penetrat- 

 ed and the principal species of trees are Todo-matsu (Abies 

 sachalinensis Mast.) and Ezo-matsu (Picca ajanensis Fisch.). 

 In Hokkaido, these trees begin to grow in regions 450 metres 

 above sea level in the mountainous districts of the southern 

 part of the island and extending over the boundaries of Teshio, 

 Tokachi, Nemuro, and Kitami, inclusive of the mountain 

 ranges of Ishikari, reach to Kunajiri island. In particular, these 

 forests present perfect sylvan features without being mixed 

 with other trees covering a large tract of land such as the 

 Imperial forests of Tarumae and Amaryo, the State forests of 

 Teshio, the Imperial forests of Kushiro, the State forests of 

 Oneto, Shari, and Kokugo-to. The greater part of the forests 

 covering 80% of the entire land in Karafuto practically consists 

 of these trees. Parts below 400 metres above sea level on Mt. 

 Niitoi are covered with coniferous forests composed of these 

 trees while up to 500 metres, there grow mixed forests of 

 conifers and broad-leaved trees. In those parts above 500 

 metres and below 20 metres there exist broad-leaved trees, 

 Hai-mats [Pimis pumila Pall.) and lawns. The greater parts 

 of Karafuto are below the 500 metres above sea level so 

 that they are thickly wooded with these trees. The distant 

 view of these forest ranges is altogether continental and such 



