268 Denmark. 
The forest area, which until 1820 was on the decrease, 
has since that time increased steadily, and is espec- 
jally now increasing through reforestation of waste 
lands. 
At present the most intensive forest management is 
practised in the State forest as well as in the communal 
and private forest areas which are largely in farmers’ 
woodlots since the law forbids the union of small farms 
into large estates. There is little communal property, 
and large private estates are also rare. The State owns 
somewhat over 21% of the forest area or 142,000 acres, 
of which 60% is coniferous. Excepting in the beech 
forest most of the timber is of the younger age classes 
below 60 to 80 years, and it is anticipated that the cut 
will have to be reduced, and the import of wood and 
woodenware which is now over six million dollars in 
value will have to be increased. 
Artificial reproduction is the most general silvicul- 
tural practice except in the beech forest which is repro- 
duced naturally after preparation of the soil and sowing 
acorns for admixture at the same time, spending alto- 
gether $12 to $15 per acre in this preparation. Since 
1880 thinnings have been based on the idea of final har- 
vest trees; they are begun in the twentieth to thirtieth 
year and are repeated every three years, aided by prun- 
ing. Then in each subsequent decade the return occurs 
in as many years as the decade has tens. Especially in 
.the direction of thinnings the German practice and even 
theory is outdone, the thinnings being made severer and 
recurring more frequently. 
More than a hundred years ago the State began the 
