218 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 



returns required, and copies of tabulated returns received 

 in regard to agriculture and cattle, including meteorolo- 

 gical observations, in regard to fishing and the chase, in 

 regard to industrial occupations and products, in regard 

 to commerce, navigation, and roads, and in regard to finance 

 and financial conditions for the years 1861-1865 ; and there 

 are given official reports on the economic condition of the 

 several prefectures for the years 1866-1870, 



In the report on the forest condition of Lister and 

 Mandal a report made to the Department of the Interior 

 by Forest- Assistant Aars, published in successive numbers 

 of the Christiansand Stiftsavis in the latter months of 

 1870, the whole series is charged with most interesting 

 minute local descriptions ; but the burden of the whole is 

 complaint of the disappearance of the forests. The first 

 district mentioned, Vauso and Herred, is described as sub- 

 ject to inundations of drift sand ; and the planting of the 

 ground with trees, and the covering of the saud with 

 sea- weed are suggested as remedial measures, the adop- 

 tion of which is urgently called for. Of the Praesterg- 

 jeld, or parish of Fjotland, the clergyman writes that 

 'things are bad and every day becoming worse; as time 

 goes on every stick growing will be converted into 

 money, and then ? ' From another district the clergy- 

 man writes that there is no hope unless the Government 

 come forward and purchase the remaining forests. From 

 a third district the clergyman, after pouring out a long 

 Jeremiad of lamentations, winds up with a like suggestion 

 as the only measure likely to prevent utter devastation ; 

 and from the Praestergjdd, or parish of Siredalens, the 

 report is that the destruction of forests has been carried 

 so far that even the interposition of the Government 

 could effect nothing in preventing desolation, as some 

 places must ere long be almost uninhabitable. 



The report was furnished to me by the Government ; 

 it is in exact accordance with what I have seen of the 

 results of reckless felling elsewhere. 



