FOREST DEVASTATION. 217 



topic, the rapid disappearance of trie forests, especially 

 those of fir. They report that Government must do the 

 work itself; nothing or little can be expected from private 

 proprietors : only one of the latter is spoken of approvingly 

 as making a movement in the right direction. 



The rights of pasturage are reported to be a great ob- 

 stacle, as the young trees must be fenced in order to protect 

 them from sheep, which in Norway seem to be very agile 

 in that particular part of the west coast, needing a higher 

 fence than usual. The expense of fencing falls of course 

 on the improving proprietor. One writer says Government 

 should interfere on this point, for nothing will be done so 

 long as sheep can roam at large. Another brings the same 

 complaint against cattle. 



It is recommended that the heath under the trees should 

 be cut down when there is a good seed year, as it chokes 

 the young plants. Another suggests that all woods 

 attached to clerical or other offices should be resumed 

 l>y Government ; their extent is small, but the operations 

 would give instructions to proprietors in the neighbourhood. 

 In some places land is cheap, and could be bought to advan- 

 tage, in others it is very much subdivided, and difficult to 

 obtain. 



All write gloomily, and the only hope is in the Govern- 

 ment buying and replanting large stretches, and limiting 

 the rights of pasturage. 



It is lecommended further, that Government officials 

 should be required to assist all who wish their help in 

 making attempts at forest culture. In general the people 

 only care for money, and are careless of the future, with, 

 of course, cheering exceptions. One English company, it 

 is reported, has been hewing down at a great rate. 



Something similar may be said of the reports on the 

 economical condition of the kingdom, made by the pre- 

 lects of nineteen prefectures, and a report of the same to 

 the king by the Department of the Interior, with copies 

 of administrative instructions, and forms of tabulated 



