102 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



by dividing the great extent of forests, even of timber 

 forests, into narrow parallel zones across all the forest 

 masses, and in number eqnal to the number of years of the 

 revolution prescribed for exploitation. 



' The physical inconveniences and the utter inequality of 

 the produce of these fellings, according to a tire et aire, 

 were the cause why these plans were carried out almost 

 nowhere, and that the forest continued to be exploited 

 arbitrarily by Jardinage. The scientific system of exploita- 

 tion was not introduced into Russia and put in practice till 

 1841. At the present time over the whole of the Govern- 

 ment forests there are 11,872,500 hectares subjected to a 

 regulated exploitation, principally in the provinces of the 

 south, of the centre, and of the south-west of Russia, where 

 the forests have acquired a great importance, because their 

 extent and their produce scarcely suffice to meet the local 

 wants of the population. And the forests belonging to the 

 mines and manufactories are all exploited according to a 

 definite plan of management, and this is why one may 

 reckon that in all these forests, which cover a space of 

 5,891,638 hectares, the fellings are in legalised proportion 

 with the annual increase of the trees. 



'On the forests belonging to the appanages there are 

 3,728,346 hectares which have been subjected to a regu- 

 lated exploitation. In what relates to forests belonging to 

 private proprietors there exists no organ which combines 

 the technical data and statistics, and which contributes to 

 establish a useful principle' and practice. Yet of late the 

 proprietors of forests, and especially the great proprietors, 

 are earnestly desirous to submit their forests to a regular 

 exploitation, and in acknowledgment of the advantage of 

 it, have taken to administer their forests special officials 

 who have previously received technical instruction on 

 forest administration. It is even possible to cite some 

 proprietors whose forests are managed rigorously, con- 

 formably to the rules of science, amongst others Prince 

 Paskevitch, proprietor of many extensive forests in the 

 Governments of MohilerT and of Riazan ; Count Ouvaroff, 



