the best kept of any, as well as the most prolific in their annual 

 yield. The companies spend much more, proportionately, 

 than does the State on their upkeep. 



However, Norwegian forest laws do not leave it entirely 

 to the owner to say what shall be done. The owner cannot 

 do as he pleases with his woods. All cutting is done under 

 government prescribed regulations. So-called clean-cutting, 

 which is permitted in Sweden and Finland with certain 

 restrictions, is seldom practiced in Norway. Selective cutting 

 is the only approved method. All cutting is done with 

 regard to its effect upon the standing forest, rather than 

 for the immediate yield. Norwegian foresters are unusually 

 successful in maintaining their forests by natural means. In 

 many parts of the country artificial reforestation is seldom 

 necessary, cutting being done in such a way that Nature re- 

 plants the cut-over area in a remarkably short time, main- 

 taining the forests in a state of constant development. In 

 other parts the long interval between seed-bearing seasons 

 makes artificial forest propagation essential and in these 

 localities seeding and planting are carried on extensively. 



The State and the private owners work well together and 

 the results obtained are of the best. Violations of the regula- 

 tions are very rare. The State is also generous in its support 

 of the forest industry generally and does everything possible 

 to encourage its development. 



Coniferous timber areas are estimated to represent about 

 82 per cent, of Norway's total productive forests, Scotch pine 

 and white spruce constituting the principal species. The State 

 Forest Department, which administers the public forests and 

 supervises the administration of those privately owned, is 

 now engaged in completing a survey of the country's total 

 timber resources which, when completed, is expected to lead 

 to further restrictions. An unofficial estimate, covering 

 thirteen million acres of productive forest lands, gives an aver- 

 age of 9.2 cords per acre, or approximately, 3,675,000 cords. 

 The total annual consumption, exclusive of imports, has been 

 calculated at about 1,320,000 cords for the wood-using in- 

 dustries and at about 4,765,000 cords if the wood used for 

 fuel, for construction and other domestic purposes is taken 

 into account. According to this calculation Norway is con- 

 suming annually from 25% to 30% more wood than its forests 



