FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 39 



The varieties of forest trees in each of these zones are 

 almost innumerable, but those mentioned above are the princi- 

 pal species in Japan. These trees naturally form forests by 

 themselves or mixed with other trees in their respective zones. 

 Conifers, in general, occupy elevated places such as hills and 

 mountains in the southern part of Honshu while the forests in 

 the low and level grounds are generally of broad-leaved trees. 

 On the contrary, in the northern part of Honshu, conifers 

 mostly grow along the mountain slope but both on the 

 summit and foot of mountains broad-leaved trees are found. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE FOREST EXPLOITATION. 



Section I. Outlines. 



The record shows that attempts for the exploitation of 

 forests were made as early as in the period of Konin (the 

 beginning of the 9th century) and the Emperors of successive 

 generations put a limitation upon the felling of trees by the 

 Imperial Decree with a view to the protection of forests. For 

 the space of several hundred years the courtiers vied with one 

 another for the supremacy in the administration causing a 

 series of internecine wars. To be sure, there was an occasional 

 respite but having no energy remaining to attend to the forest 

 exploitation, it was neglected together with other branches of 

 industries. Since the Tokugawa family started the Govern- 



