PART it, 
FOREST ECONOMY, 
‘0 
INTRODUCTION. 
CONSUMPTION OF WOOD IN FINLAND. 
Dr. K. E. Ienativus, who is Chief of the Staff in the Office 
of Statistics in Finland, reports in regard to the Forest 
Economy of the country :—‘ Forest products constitute more 
than half of the total value of exports from Finland. This 
shows of what importance the forests are for the country. 
It is reckoned that 64 per cent. of the entire surface, or 
213,772 square kilometers, are covered with forests. But 
these immense resources have been wasted recklessly for 
centuries. That apparent dislike to forests which has 
been seen amongst all settlers in forest lands seems to 
be innate in the Finns. The practice of setting fire to 
the trees, in order to clear the ground, has led to the 
destruction of forests upon a great scale, and the con- 
flagrations have at times swept over a great extent of 
country. This practice still exists, more especially in the 
eastern parts of the country; but the new regulations 
which have been issued have already contributed greatly 
towards putting a stop to this abuse. Amongst other 
causes of destruction may be reckoned first, the combustion 
of pines and firs to obtain tar; next, the waste of wood 
in fencing—in many places they enclose the smallest 
bits of land, and for this purpose millions of young trees 
