The value of home-grown timber in 1908 was estimated at 800,000l. for Great Britain, or, if Ireland is included, at 1,000,000l. If this figure holds good for 1911, we are producing in value only one thirty-sixth part of the total timber consumed in this country. The proportion for the following countries is: Germany, 0.75 per cent.; France, 0.75; Italy, 0.66; Belgium, 0·33; Holland, 0·25; Britain, 0·03. Austria, Russia, Sweden and Norway are timber-exporting countries and have a supply in excess of their requirements. Too much stress cannot be laid on these figures, as they go to the root of the question. They show that we depend upon other countries for practically the whole of our timber supply, and that we stand alone among the nations in making little or no attempt to turn our waste lands to useful account by growing timber.

The countries on which we depend for our supply of coniferous or structural timber are Russia, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Norway, France and Germany. Russia contributes about one-third of our total imports, and Russia and Sweden together supply one-half. The United States and Canada together supply two-sevenths; Norway supplies about one-twelfth; France sends us large quantities of pitprops. Of the hardwoods, AustriaHungary supplies us with oak; India, Siam and Java with teak; French West Africa, Nigeria, Cuba and British Honduras with mahogany.

Before considering the forest resources of the abovementioned countries it is necessary to give a brief description of what is meant by the timber of commerce. Timber is classified into two broad divisions-soft-woods and hardwoods. The former are practically all conifersthe pines (red or yellow deal), the spruces and firs (white deal) and the larches. The timber is comparatively light, strong and easy to work and is extensively used by all trades and generally for building purposes. Coniferous timber is imported as logs, deals (thick planks) and boards, and is cut or sawn from the trunks of selected trees with good clean boles, as free from knots as possible. Pitprops are cut from stunted and knotted trees or from the tops of the trees from which the logs have been cut. Wood pulp is made from small trees of from four to eight inches diameter, and is largely used for the manufacture of the cheaper papers.

Many of the hardwoods that are imported do not grow in this country, oak being the chief exception, but even then the foreign oak is supposed to be easier to work than the home-grown wood, although not so strong. The hardwoods are utilised for special purposes, such as veneering, panelling, flooring, furniture and wood turnery; they are heavier and more difficult to work, and in consequence are only utilised to a limited extent.

For the sake of convenience our annual imports may be classified as follows (the figures are taken from the Board of Trade returns for 1911):

Class I. Conifers either in logs or as sawn, planed

.

Value

£

18,000,000

or dressed lumber
II. Conifers as pitprops and pit

3,500,000

Broadly speaking, the first four classes are derived from species similar to those growing in this country. The fifth class is composed of both conifers and hardwoods; the sixth class of foreign woods. The value of our timber imports has doubled in the last twenty years. In reviewing the forest resources from which our timber supply is obtained, it will be necessary to remember that we are concerned principally with the coniferous timber and not with the hardwoods.

Russia is now our main source of supply, and is sending us more timber than any other country, besides supplying Germany and France with an appreciable portion of their imports. So far back as 1865, Russia supplied us with timber to the value of 1,000,000l. per annum; between the years 1891 and 1901 her exports to this country were stationary and amounted to about 5,500,000l. Since 1901 the value has doubled, and in 1911 amounted to 11,000,000l. These figures are most important, and show clearly that, should Russia's supply fail, our industries would be crippled for want of timber. As time goes on, her forests will become of even greater impor

tance, and it is essential that we should make a close study of their further development. Russia is credited with a forest area of 800 million acres; but, until more trustworthy data are forthcoming, we can only form a rough approximation of how much of this vast area is genuine productive forest, as allowance must be made for swamps, barren lands, and the high latitude of the northern regions. With our present knowledge we may, however, assume with safety that in European Russia and Finland there are 350,000,000 acres of forest and in Asiatic Russia 200,000,000. These two divisions will be considered separately.

European Russia.-It is a very fortunate circumstance that two-thirds of the forest area are situated in the five northern provinces, and are consequently more accessible to this country than they would be if otherwise distributed. Besides the above, there are two other very favourable factors. It is estimated that 88 per cent. of the forest trees are conifers. The quality of the timber is good, and the larch, Scotch pine, spruce, and silver fir find a ready sale in this country. The other factor is that nearly 70 per cent. of the forest area is the property of the State. The problem of scientific management is simplified, as it is in the interest of the State to control the cut so as not to exceed the annual growth, and thus to secure to the country a permanent supply of timber. In the case of private ownership, there is always a danger of the forests being overcut to obtain quick returns, unless the State exercises some form of effective control. The United States is an example of the destruction of magnificent natural forests by private enterprise uncontrolled by the State.

Mr Raphael Zon (Bulletin 83, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) states that the annual cut in the Russian State forests is only 5.15 cubic feet per acre, while in the private forests it is as high as 37 cubic feet per acre. He estimates the average cut at 17 cubic feet, and the average growth at 31 cubic feet per acre for the whole of European Russia. Both figures appear to be too high. According to an article in the Quarterly Journal of Forestry,' April 1911, by Mr L. S. Wood, from sample measurements actually taken by him over an area of 300,000 acres in the Province of Perm, the average annual growth of merchant

able timber does not appear to exceed 20 cubic feet per acre. The Province of Perm lies between the 55th and 60th degree of North Latitude, and may be regarded as more favourably situated than the great bulk of the Russian forests; and yet the average diameter for spruce was only 11.9 inches in 122 years' growth. Assuming the most favourable figures, it would appear that Russia is cutting at least half the annual growth of her forests.

The export trade only accounts for about one-sixteenth of the total cut, as the local consumption is enormous. The question of the duration of the forest resources largely depends upon the future development of the country and the increase of the population. The population of European Russia in 1909 was about 130,000,000, and is increasing at the rate of over 2,250,000 a year; in fifty years' time it should have doubled itself. It is therefore safe to predict that long before the fifty years are over, the cut will have exceeded the annual growth and the exports of timber will have begun to decline. Taking all these facts into account, it is a question whether Russia will be able to increase her timber exports to any great extent; and in another fifty years' time it is doubtful if she will be able to maintain them at their present high figure.

Siberia.-Siberia has been counted upon, by many, as a future source of supply; but, when all the facts are carefully considered, it is doubtful if Europe will secure much of her surplus timber. The Siberian forests are believed to cover an enormous area, but from the data available it is probable that the true forest area does not exceed that of Canada, viz. 200,000,000 acres. For the export of timber on a large scale it is essential to have waterways, supplemented by railways where necessary; and, as all the great rivers empty into the Arctic Ocean, excepting the Amur, which flows into the Pacific, and are, in consequence, inaccessible to ocean-going ships, the export of logs must be a question of great difficulty and expense, and the shortest and easiest routes will have to be followed, which for the most part lead eastwards, and not westwards towards Europe. Vast areas of Siberia are also treeless, and enormous quantities of timber will be required in the development of the country. There are, however, some favourable factors;

the limit of tree growth extends further north than in Canada, and it is probable that merchantable timber will be found as far north as the 65th degree of North Latitude. As in most northerly countries, the proportion of coniferous timber is high, and amounts to 70 per cent. The State owns practically all the forests. After taking all considerations into account, it seems likely that Siberia cannot be counted upon as a reserve for Europe, but rather as a reserve for China, Japan, and Australia, and possibly for Russia herself.

Sweden. Nearly half the area of Sweden, or about 48,000,000 acres, is classified as forest land. A deduction must be made for lakes, swamps and barren landsroughly 30 per cent., which leaves 32,000,000 acres as the area of productive forest. The Swedish forests are very valuable, as they contain a very high proportion of coniferous timber-nearly 80 per cent.

Sweden for many years exported more timber than any other country except Austria-Hungay. Now Russia has caught up Austria, and Sweden occupies third place. The Swedish exports of structural timber have remained stationary for the last twelve years, a clear indication that her maximum output has been reached; but her export of pulpwood is increasing. The exports to Great Britain for 1911 were as follows:-structural timber, 3,000,000l.; pitprops, 500,000l.; wood pulp, 3,500,000l. These figures indicate very clearly that Sweden has reached an advanced stage in the development of her woodwork industries. In central and southern Sweden the wastage has been reduced to 5 per cent., but it is still high in the north, where transport and other conditions are less favourable. The quality of the timber is not so good, and the percentage of smaller trees cut is much higher than was formerly the case. The annual growth is estimated at 25 cubic feet per acre and the cut about the same. Scientific forestry is being practised in Sweden; and, as nearly half the forests are State-owned or under State supervision, we may count on Sweden maintaining her present output, but we cannot count on an expansion in the future.

Norway.-Norway has overcut her forests in the past. The accessibility to the western coast, with its sheltered fjords, has caused a heavy drain in that region. One