KATUNDA 226 



130 feet, with a diameter of 12 to 45 inches at the 

 top. In Southern Siberia the birch is also very 

 plentiful, and in somfe localities produces " spanks," 

 which are char'acterised by a very peculiar and pretty 

 grain, and which are, therefore, extensively used in 

 cabinet-tnaking, carving, etc., etc. 



Next in importance to the birch is the aspen. This 

 tree is gradually spreading more than the birch-tree, 

 as it grows better on land that has been cleared of 

 forests. On good soil, and under good climatic con- 

 ditions, the aspen in 60 years attains a height of 

 about 90 feet, with a diameter of 17 inches at the 

 top, and has a clean and healthy fibre. 



The next place is taken by two coniferous trees, the 

 larch {Larix) and a species of fir {Abies Pextinata). 

 The latter grows mostly in Northern Siberia. The 

 Wood is of very high quality, and, if it is not ex- 

 ported to a very great extent, the circumstance can 

 only be explained by the fact that it is not so well 

 known, as the other trees grown in Siberia. It fre- 

 quently attains the height of 200 feet and the 

 patriarchal age of 300 years. 



The spectacle of hundreds of thousands of trees 

 burnt down to their stumps convinced us of the 

 necessity for good foresters to look after them. We 

 gathered from' the forester's conversation that the 

 very serious burning of forests in these parts compels 

 the authorities to be very strict. Peasants are allowed 

 a certain quantity of wood, but they are also entitled 

 to cut down dead trees. It is m"uch to be regretted 

 , that the burning of forests cannot be stopped in 

 Siberia, as their wholesale destruction is apparent 

 from the enormous numbers of burnt trees visible 

 almost everywhere. The Forest Inspector was there 

 to stop the extermination and to distribute the right 

 proportion of wood from the forests among the 

 peasants. These parts are not so thickly wooded as 



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