Forest Conditions. 45 
timber famine 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 enacted, but as late as 
1778 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 still constantly recurring fires 
could not be checked,” that “not a single acre of forest 
could be found 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 nobility 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 
