FOREST DEVASTATION. 217 
topic, the rapid disappearance of the forests, especially 
those of fir. They report that Government must do the 
work itself; nothing or little can be expected from private 
proprietors : only one of the latter is spoken of approvingly 
as making a movement in the right direction. 
The rights of pasturage are reported to be a great ob- 
stacle, as the young trees must be fenced in order to protect 
them from sheep, which in Norway seem to be very agile 
in that particular part of the west coast, needing a higher 
fence than usual. The expense of fencing falls of course 
on the improving proprietor. One writer says Government 
should interfere on this point, for nothing will be done so 
dong as sheep can roam at large. Another brings the same 
complaint against cattle. 
It is recommended that the heath under the trees should 
be cut down when there is a good seed year, as it chokes 
the young plants. Another suggests that all woods 
attached to clerical or other offices should be resumed 
hy Government ; their extent is small, but the operations 
would give instructions to proprietors in the neighbourhood. 
In some places land is cheap, and could be bought to advan- 
tage, in others it is very much subdivided, and difficult to 
obtain. 
All write gloomily, and the only hope is in the Govern- 
ment buying and replanting large stretches, and limiting 
the rights of pasturage. 
> It is recommended further, that Government officials 
should be required to assist all who wish their help in 
making attempts at forest culture. In general the people 
only care for money, and are careless of the future, with, 
of course, cheering exceptions. One English company, it 
is reported, has been hewing down at a great rate. 
Something similar may be said of the reports on the 
economical condition of the kingdom, made by the pre- 
fects of nineteen prefectures, and a report of the same to 
the king by the Department of the Interior, with copies 
of administrative instructions, and forms of tabulated 
