FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



331 



barrenness which resulted directly from the removal of its forests. There are nations 

 whose decadence dates from the destruction of their forests, and the impoverished 

 conditions which followed. 



In the State of New York the percentage of land under forest cover has steadily 

 decreased until its area is less than is required for the welfare of the people. The 

 combined woodlands of our State cover about twenty-one per cent, of its entire 

 territory. These woodlands include not only the great forests in the Adirondack and 

 Catskill regions, but also the many small groves and "wood lots" that are scattered 

 throughout the farming districts, some of which are maintained by the farmers in order 

 to obtain their supply of fuel. 



It will be interesting to note here the proportion of forest land in European 

 countries, where after many centuries of civilization the people have learned what 

 proportion of their territory should be kept as woodlands in order to attain the 

 greatest prosperity. The percentage of forest lands in each country is as follows : 



Forest Areas in European Countries. 







PERCENTAGE 



ACRES OP 



COUNTRY 



ACRES 



OF 



FOREST 







TOTAL AREAS 



PER CAPITA 



Russia, ........ 



508,013,110 



38.O 



6.8 



Austria, 











48,145.673 



3 1 3 



1 3 



Germany, . 











33.355.373 



25.6 



0.8 



Norway, . 











i9.5 6 4,5 01 



25.0 



13 1 



Sweden, . 











26,225,467 



24 . 2 



9 7 



Turkey, 











31,280,723 



24.1 



2 . 1 



Italy, 











12,709,213 



20 . 



°-5 



Switzerland, 











I ,94°. 6 59 



18.8 



0.7 



France, 











2 3.5 I0 .999 



n 7 



0.6 



Spain, 











21,328,489 



16.3 



1 . 2 



Belgium, . 











873,435 



12.0 



. 1 



Greece, 











1.546,307 



11. 8 



1 1 



Great Britain, 









2 .5°9.479 



3- 2 



. 1 



United States, ..... 



489,910,000 



26.5 



6.9 



New York, ....... 



7,065,000 



219 



1 . 1 



It is generally conceded, as the result of long observation and experience that a 

 country with one-fourth of its area in forests will produce larger crops and have a 

 better climate than if all the land were cleared. 



