S36 EXTRACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR [March 1895- 



REPORTS. 



XI.— EXTRACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR 



REPORTS 



TrANS-CaUC ASIAN FORESTS. 



In a report to the Foreign Office for the year 1894 on the 

 agricultural condition of the Batoum Consular District, Mr. P. 

 Stevens, Her Majesty's Consul at that town, states that the 

 forest area of the Trans-Caucasus is immense, amounting to 

 close upon 13,000,000 acres, but unfortunately these vast forests 

 which should, if properly worked, be a source of enormous wealth 

 to the country, are practically speaking absolutely unproductive 

 when the whole area is taken into consideration. 



Forests of pines and firs of various kinds, and beech now pre- 

 dominate in Trans-Caucasia, although traces abound to show 

 that formerly very extensive forests of oak were spread over 

 exceedingly large areas, but by far the greater part of these have 

 now disappeared, and it is evident that they have been cut down 

 by former generations for the sake of the leaves, which have 

 been used as fodder for cattle in years of scarcity. 



In considering the question of the forest industry in Trans- 

 Caucasia, Mr. Stevens says that it is impossible not to regret 

 the deplorable state of affairs which now prevails, more especially 

 when the splendid results attained by such countries as Austria 

 and Germany, thanks to their forestry organisations, are called 

 to mind. 



The neglect which takes place in the exploitation of a forest 

 in the Trans- Caucasus is said to be very patent. Instead of 

 careful and systematic development going hand in hand with 

 remunerative enterprise, there is nothing but a disregard of even 

 the elementary economic and natural principles which should 

 govern the prosecution of this branch of industry. The root of 

 this evil is, it appears, to be found in the want of regulations 

 providing for the working of the forests on an improved and 

 rational system, combined with an active supervision on the part 

 of an efficient staff duly empowered to enforce the strict obser- 

 vance of such regulations by the parties concerned. 



It is a universally admitted fact that the greatest possible 

 injury is caused to pine forests by the felling of trees which are 

 not removed. Dead trunks, if left in the forest, harbour all 

 kinds of harmful insects, the ravages of which eventually destroy 

 the surrounding trees ; and if once a forest becomes choked up 

 with dead rubbish it is practically ruined. The exploitation of 

 forests in the Trans-Caucasus is, it is observed, taken up, as a rule, 

 by lessees who have but one object in view, and that is, to get 

 out as much wood as possible in the shortest possible time. 



