APPROXIMATE AREAS OF FOREST iii 



been made from time to time for extending cultivation 

 and other purposes. 



Even at the present day such grants continue to be 

 made, but only after a careful examination of the 

 areas to ascertain whether they can be put to better 

 economic use than by the growth of trees ; for the 

 economic value of the forest, in the interests of the 

 people and the country at large, is now fully recognised. 

 Accordingly, the Government has within the last few 

 years extended the forest area in the south and centre 

 of the country by purchasing extensive areas of 

 privately owned forests. The following table shows 

 the approximate areas of forest in the eight Govern- 

 ments of Finland : 



The above figures show that forest soils of the best 

 quality occupy an area of only 13,722,723 acres, or 43 

 per cent, of the total forest area. Bog or fen areas of 

 the better class (16,908,115 acres) are either covered 

 with forests or are rocky and bare areas of little f orestal 



