THE FORESTS OF THE WORLD.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 11 June 1880, Page 2

THE FORESTS OF THE WORLD.

* -* The forests of Europe are estimated as being 500,000,000 acres in esten*, or ab>ut 20 per cent. oi the whole area of the continent. In Forth America it ts reckoned that 1,460.000,000 acres are covered with trees, of which area 900,000,000 acres are in British North America. In Sooth America, forest 8 occupy about 700030,000 acre^. The total amount for the two eon-s tijrents of the New World and Europe gives 3,600,000 geographical miles. /' The proportion of the forest land to tha^rhole area of Europe as above stated/s computed at 20 per cent., in America 21 per cent. Supposing therefore 20' per cent. to be the proportion in Asia^ Africa and Australia, the grand toia^of the fggeste of the world cover a ep^e of 7 6aS»000 geographical miles. The area of State forests and woodlands are estimated at the following figures in the undermentioned European eonntries : — Prussia j5 230 000 acres ; Bavaria 3,294,000 acres ; France 2,700.000; Austria 2,220,000; Ftanorer 900,000 acres ; Wurferahurg 469,087 ; Saxony 394,000 ; England 112/376. The range in height of trees varies from the miniature Alpine willi w /if a few inches iv height to the stupend- / ous Wellingtonia which grows to a height of 350 ft, although indeed it is stated that one of the eucalypti often reaches a height of 420rt in Victoria. In Sdavonia a tree calied the sapin attains a height of 275 t, and the umbrella pines of Tta'y 200 feet. The Cali f ornian big tree is said to girth 96ft. The destruction of woods and forest*?, however, is very enormous and in ihe majority of instances no attempts are being made for their reproduction. In South Africa, we are told, millions of acres are des'royed and made waste annually, Id New Zealand the 30 per cent, of forest existing iv 1880 had sunk to 28 to 1868 and to 18 in 1873, which rate of diminution, if continued, would result in the total destruction of the New Z aland forests by 1889. In America— the United States especially — the consumption of timber is enormous, and although public attention has been

called in the matter, and the Uaitet States Statute of March, 1873, imposes a fine of 500 dota. or a year f 3 imprison* ment for wanton injury or destruction of trees, and also a fine of 200 dols. or six moot lib' imprisonment for allowing* cattle »o injure trees * on national grounds/ the yearly consumption and improvident OS9 of timber is almost incredible. Although (says the Scientific American) there h no available statistics to show the exict rat* of speed with which they aw using up the wood supply, it is easy to see that it is being done with great rapidity. Taking the legitimate use of lumber alone, industries based on its manufacture goo* stitate the second in point of magnitude in America, and are only exceeded by the iron interest. About 150,000 persons are stated to be emp'oyed in producing sawn lumbet alone; 143,500.000 dols. are in* rested there : n, ' aad 1,295 000,000 laths, 3,265,000.000 shingles, and 12.756,000,000 feel of timber are yearly manufactured.* 0n the secondary industries based on the i use of lumber as a raw material, ear* pentry, cabinet making, ship-building, &c, millions of people are employed. According to Professor Brewer's siser* | tion, wood forms the fuel of two* third* of the population, and the partial fuel of nine-tenths of the remaining third. Add this to the former estimate, and some general idea will be obtained of .the enoi* mons dram upon American forests thai is . constantly iv progress. As a faoi, it is well known that in 1871 as many as 10,000 acres of forest were stripped of their timber to supply Chicago with fuel, and yet no attempt is made t6 reproduce. ______^__ ____,