AGRICULTURE OX THE RHINE. 109 



mand for charcoal has a similar effect, people having- of 

 late years discovered that underwood and branches yield 

 the best charcoal. The Black Forest and the Spcssart 

 being well situated with respect to water communication, 

 the larger trees are bought for exportation, and the 

 largest fir and pine trunks are called " Hollander" when 

 felled, from their destination to be jfloated down the Rhine 

 to Holland. In the manufacturing districts of the Lower 

 Pthine, on the other hand, the demand for oak timber for 

 the construction of machinery is very great, and high 

 prices are paid for it. 



An undefined notion of the cheapness of timber in 

 Germany has long prevailed in England. We shall sec 

 that the Rhenish districts do not participate in this ad- 

 vantage. A rapid rise has everywhere been experienced 

 in the price of wood, that is acknowledged to operate 

 unfavourably on the general prosperity of the Rhenish 

 states. Details that can be relied upon have only been 

 published for the Grand Duchy of Baden ; but these will 

 suffice to show the relative increase in the price of timber 

 and fire-wood when compared with other agricultural 

 products. Within the last ten years the price, according 

 to recent statements, has advanced from 30 to 40 per 

 cent. The average price for one cubic foot in the forests 

 of Baden was in 



Timber {OA ; 



j Oak . 

 Fire-wood < Beech 

 iFir . 



Three kreutzers make exactly ore English penny : the 



present price of choice oak timber, in stems of 65 to 70 



r3 



