WOELD'S TIMBER RESOUECES 197 



Norway. The Norwegian forests cover ap- 

 proximately a quarter of the country, or 

 19,300,000 acres, of which 73 per cent is under 

 Pine trees. The Crown forests occupy 2,315,000 

 acres, municipal forests 578,000 acres, and 

 private forests 16,395,000 acres. Owing to the 

 enormous exports, the timber resources of 

 Norway are steadily dechning. One of the 

 chief sources of waste was foiind to be the 

 felling of young trees for pulp. 



In 1893 an act was passed for the demarcation 

 and maintenance of " protection forests " on 

 mountain slopes and watersheds, the object 

 being to ensure efficient protection against land- 

 shps, drifting sands, and alterations in the courses 

 or beds of streams. 



As the majority of the forests are in private 

 hands, it is not surprising to find that the pro- 

 portion of those worked on forestry principles 

 is very small, being only 276,000 acres. The 

 annual output clearly exceeds the natural 

 increase, hence not only is the supply of timber 

 and fuel decreasing, but the average size of the 

 trees felled is also becoming smaller. 



In connection with planting work, three large 

 nurseries and several smaller ones, as well as 

 four seed estabhshments are maintained, which 

 supply trees and seed to private persons as 

 well as to public bodies. 



