128 OF WOOD IN GENERAL. 



was worth 150 francs in 1850, 260 francs in 1860, 360 francs in 

 1865 and 400 francs by 1877. In the United States prices rose 

 100 per cent, between 1874 and 1882; and an equal rise took 

 place in Russia; whilst in Sweden and Norway between 1847 

 and 1882 (35 years) a rise of from 150 to 200 per cent, according 

 to species occurred. 



The obvious conclusions to be drawn from this necessarily in- 

 complete survey of the world's resources and consumption of timber 

 are that, in spite of substitutes, the use of wood increases with 

 advancing population and civilization ; that there is still in many 

 lands much waste, much over felling and but little conservation or 

 forethought ; that no country can safely declare its supply inex- 

 haustible ; and that, though an absolute dearth of timber may be 

 far distant, some valuable species are in danger of extermination, 

 and we may expect a considerable enhancement of the price of the 

 commoner kinds as the supply has to be drawn from more and 

 more remote sources. 



It is undoubtedly, from the magnitude of the interests at stake, 

 a question which demands the attention of the economists, land- 

 owners and legislature of every country. If, as Bernard Palissy 

 wrote in the sixteenth century, " after all the trees have been cut 

 down it will be necessary for all the arts to cease " ; and if even 

 Colbert could prophesy that "France will perish for want of 

 wood," the danger, in our own time and in many lands besides 

 France, is far more serious. 



