JAPAN. 



The modernization of this remarkable island empire 

 of Niphon (the native name), which began in 1868, 

 included the organization of a forest department after 

 German models. Curiously enough, there are other 

 noteworthy points of similarity to be f oimd in the his- 

 toric development of forestry in Germany and Japan. 



The empire comprises four larger islands — Kiushiu, 

 Shikoku, Hondo or Honshiu, and Hokkaido or Yesso — 

 and a host of smaller ones, stretching in a chain of 

 nearly 3,000 miles north and south along the Asiastic 

 shore, the width of land being nowhere over 300 miles. 

 It comprises an area of nearly 150,000 square miles, with 

 a population approximating 50 million, largely engaged 

 in fisheries and other sea industries. 



The islands are of volcanic origin — ^part of the 

 "girdle of fire" which reaches from the Alaska peninsula 

 through the Philippines to the Antilles — ^with many ac- 



Foresiry of Japan, X904. published by the Imperial Bureau of Forestry in 

 connection with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, contains most of the infor- 

 mation utilized above, 



Aus den Waldungen JapaWs^ by Dr. Heinrich Hayr, X891, gives a full 

 account of the forest geography, which is also to be found in J. J. Rein,yd/a», 

 1886. 



Der Wald in Japan, an article by Dr. Hefele in Forstwissenschaftliches 

 Centralblatt, 1903, gives an insight into forest conditions from the point of view 

 of a forester, 



A very clear analysis of the development of property rights is to be found in 

 an article by Dr. Zentaro Kawase in AUgemeine Forst-und Jagdzeitung, 1S94. 



An article in Zeitschrift fiir Forst-und Jagdwesen from the pen of Prof, 

 H, Matsuno, the first professional forester of Japan, gives a brief account of the 

 development of forestry, especially in earlier times. 



A report by Special Canadian Trade Commissioner W. T, R. Preston, igo8, 

 contains valuable statistics on the lumber trade. 



