202 



Forestry in Hesse. 



[JUNE, 



the second. The increase is due to the increased rate of 

 wage . 



Cost of Conversion. — For the first decade the cost was o'6d. 

 per cubic foot, or 35. gd. per acre, and for the second 076^. 

 per cubic foot, or 5s. qd. per acre. The increase is chiefly 

 due to higher wages, but also to the increased care taken 

 of the men, the barking and conveying to depots of coniferous 

 timber. In this connection special attention is called to 

 the value of forestry in providing winter employment for 

 agricultural labourers. 



Administration and Protection Expenses. — Since the intro- 

 duction of the new working plans in 1897-8 administrative 

 expenses have risen from 2s. lod. to 3s. 5^. per acre. As 

 previously stated, the new system brought about a reduction 

 in the average size of the forest range. The average area 

 of an "Oberforsterei " in Hesse is now 6,360 acres of forest. 

 The best authorities consider that for intensive work the size 

 of a compact range should not exceed 5,000 acres of wood. 

 In this connection the table on page 203 is of interest. The 

 average area under an academically-trained officer is shown, 

 together with the administrative expenses and net income per 

 acre for several States. As far as comparison is possible, 

 owing to the varying conditions in the different States, it will 

 be noticed that there is decidedly a general tendency for the 

 net income to rise as the average areas under an academically- 

 trained officer diminishes, and consequently as the adminis- 

 trative expenses increase. There is evidently a close relation 

 between the intensity of culture and the profits to be obtained 

 from forestry. 



The Net Yield. — The net yield per acre has grown from 

 8s. 8d. in 1889-90 to 135. 2d. per acre in 1908. It is worthy 

 of remark that the forests are even now in a transition state, 

 and an increased net yield may be expected. This raises the 

 question as to the best method of increasing the net yield, 

 and the conclusion is reached that this may be done, not 

 by decreasing the costs, but by adopting a still more intensive 

 system of cultivation. 



Comparison between the Hessian and other German State 

 Forests. — In the foregoing table the net yield for several 

 States is given. Two factors come into play in determining 

 the yield, viz., the quantity of timber cut per acre, and the 



