191 1.] Forestry in Norway. 387 



The finest forest land, chosen with regard to general 

 accessibility and condition of growth, is probably that lying 

 in the neighbourhood of the capital and extending north 

 and north-east over the Glommen watershed.* The forests 

 comprised in these areas are largely owned privately, and 

 are the field of operation of some of the largest lumber 

 companies in the country. 



Forest Management. — Until quite recently the science of 

 Forestry was but imperfectly understood by anyone but State 

 ofiicials; the great natural reproductive powers of the woods 

 being entirely relied on to re-sow the land after felling. 

 There is no doubt that this treatment has given remarkable 

 results, provided that the thinnings have not been too heavy, 

 but in many places, where the soil is poor and exposed, the 

 stock is slow in re-asserting itself. The German method of 

 clear cutting can hardly be said to exist in Norway. f The 

 three systems in use at the present time are those known 

 as Group, "Mother Tree," and Selection. The first, which 

 consists of gradually clearing a circle until its diameter 

 equals the height of the surrounding trees, works admirably ; 

 the second is used, where sufficient seed trees can be found, 

 on the same principle as the Group, while the third lends 

 itself particularly to the management of small and irregular 

 woodlands. 



Forest Operations. — The work of felling and removing the 

 timber commences in the autumn and continues throughout 

 the winter, being greatly facilitated by the snow which covers 

 the ground from November until ^larch or April. The check- 

 ing and floating takes place when the thaw fills the rivers, and 

 during the summer the timber is marked that is to be felled 

 the following winter. It will be seen that forest operations 

 differ seasonally in Norway and England. For example — 

 at the time when transit is easiest in Norway, English forest 

 roads are at their worst. The planting season, also, is 

 restricted in Norway on account of the heavy annual snowfall. 



Labour. — The necessary labour of the forests is recruited 

 very largely from the class of small peasant proprietors 



* The district referred to includes the amts or provinces of Akershus Ilede- 

 inarken, Kristian and Buskerud. Church and Slate own 700 sq. miles, or about 

 l/20th of the total productive woodland in these provinces. 



+ Coast Erosion Commission, 2nd Report: Miller 234S0--" There is no such 

 thing as cutting down in Scandinavia on a large scale."' 



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