Forest Conditions. 45 



tiinber fandne in view of the increasing population, in- 

 creasing industry and commerce, and hence increased 

 wood consumption. Especially along the water routes, 

 which furnished the means of transportation, the avail- 

 able supplies were ruthlessly exploited. More serious 

 enemies than the exploitation of the timber proved the 

 pasturing of cattle, the removal of the litter, and above 

 all the fires. 



Towards the end of the 16th century ordinances 

 against forest fires began to be ejiacted, but as late as 

 17118 the necessity of keeping the rides or fire lanes open 

 in the forests of Eastern Prussia is justified by the state- 

 ment that "otherwise the stiU constantly recurring fires 

 could not be cheeked," that "not a single acre of forest 

 could be f oimd in the province that had not been burnt 

 in former or later times," and that "the people are still 

 too much accustomed to the ruthless use of fires, so that 

 no punishment can stop them." 



Other causes of devastation were the Thirty Years' 

 War, the wars of the 18th century, and the loss of in- 

 terest in the forest by the peasants after the collapse of 

 the Mark. These had often to steal what they needed, 

 and their depredations were increased by the desire to re- 

 venge themselves on the landed proprietors for the 

 oppressions to which they were subjected. The increase 

 in game, which was fostered by the landed gentry, did 

 much damage to the young growths, and the increase in 

 the living expenses of the nobiliiy who mostly abandoned 

 country for town had to be met by increased exploita- 

 tion. 



By the end of the middle ages the reduction of forest 

 area had proceeded so far that it was generally believed 



4 



