240 Finland. 
army as their only compensation. They reverted to the 
State and are rented for terms of 50 years upon con- 
dition that the woods are to be managed according to 
Tules laid down by the State department, and special 
inspectors are provided to supervise this work. This 
system in vogue since 1863 at first met with opposition 
on the part of the renters on account of the impractical 
propositions of the department. At present the depart- 
ment manages many of these woodlots directly, as well 
as those which the clergy have received in lieu of emolu- 
ments. 
Since 1883 a corps of forest surveyors has been occu- 
pied in making working plans based upon diameter 
accretion at the curiously selected height of 25 feet from 
the ground. A commission was also instituted some years 
ago to segregate forest and farm soils in the State 
domain with a view of disposing of the latter pre- 
paratory to improved management of the remaining 
forest area. 
The State has also in a small way begun to purchase 
absolute forest soils in the southern provinces with a 
view to reforestation. 
The private forest areas, located in the more settled 
southern portions are found mostly in small parcels 
and in peasants’ hands, although the nobility also owns 
some forest properties, but the size of single holdings 
rarely exceeds 1,000 acres. These areas are mostly 
exploited without regard to the future, furnishing still 
four-fifths of the large export, and according to com- 
petent judges will soon be exhausted. 
Although attempts have been made from time to time 
to restrict the use of private forest, practically little has 
