

The Due Proportion of Woodlands t 



^. f J , I 1^ 



295. Forest Area of various Countries of Europe, from late Official 



Statistics. 



296. It will be seen from this table, that the general average 

 throughout Europe is between a fourth and a third ; that the least 

 proportion is in those countries where the facilities for foreign im- 

 portation are greatest, or where the demand is least, and that the 

 countries from whence for a century vast supplies have been drawn, 

 are by no means so well wooded as to promise indefinite continu- 

 ance or inexhaustible supply. The relative abundance in Russia is 

 found only in the northern part, and nowhere can a contrast be- 

 tween plenty and want be more strongly shown. Moreover, it 

 should be remembered that in case of need, the government might 

 easily interrupt the exportation, if it became necessary to protect 

 its own interest, or to make other countries feel their dependence 

 upon it for supplies. 



297. It is obvious that foreign demands must greatly influence 

 the prices of a commodity in countries from whence it is supplied, 

 without reference to causes that might operate within them ; and 

 since our country has furnished for a long period a large and con- 

 stantly increasing amount of timber and lumber to foreign coun- 

 tries, these questions become with us matters of direct practical in- 

 terest. It is proper, therefore, that we should take a general glance 

 at the distribution and extent of the native timber resources of the 



*This appears to be an over-statement. From statistics published in 1880, it is shown 

 that there were then 1,435,434 acres of woodland in England, 162,135 in Ireland, and 

 811.703 in Scotland. The percentages of total area were 4. 4. 3.4 and 1.6 respect- 

 ively. 



