196 TIMBERS AND THEIR USES 



and. many millions of trees have been planted, 

 the inhabitants in some instances being com- 

 pelled by law to give their labour free in this 

 work, or to contribute to the cost of it. An 

 undertaking of this kind must, obviously, be slow 

 and costly, and despite these praiseworthy 

 efforts to repair the destruction of past centuries, 

 the Karst remains one of the most desolate 

 regions in Europe, tenanted chiefly by flocks 

 of miserable sheep and goats." 



Sweden. The total area under forest is 

 47,000,000 acres, one quarter of which belongs 

 to the State. The most valuable and the most 

 widely distributed timber trees are the Northern 

 Pine and White or Norway Spruce. Next comes 

 White Birch, which furnishes the principal fuel 

 of the country, and in the southern part of the 

 kingdom Beech flourishes. The exports of 

 forest produce generally, produce over ten 

 millions sterhng per annum, an output which 

 is steadily increasing, owing to good manage- 

 ment. 



There is an admirable forestry school in 

 Stockholm and various minor institutions 

 throughout the country. 



The average value of timber shipments an- 

 nually from Sweden amounts to £10,000,000, 

 upwards of half going to Great Britain. 



