C—3a

Forest Research Institute, Florence 103. The " Statione Sperimentale de Silvicoltura " is a State organization, linked to the University of Florence by reason of the dual functions undertaken by Professor Pavari and Dr. Allegri, who, as Director and Assistant Director respectively of the Research Institute, are honorary members of the school staff both lecturing in forestry botany, and also supervising the students' field training at Yallombrosa for one month in July/August. 104. The Institute is directly responsible to and is financed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In addition to the Director, the Institute is staffed by— One Assistant Director (Dr. Allegri). One senior research officer. Several graduate research assistants. 105. The Institute controls some 200 experimental areas scattered throughout Italy, but must of necessity limit the scope of its research until more staff becomes available. Although free to develop its research programme independently, the Institute is occasionally called upon by the Forestry Administration to investigate urgent problems, such as the chestnut canker (Endothia parasitica) disease. 106. During the last twenty years much research has been done on the acclimatization of exotic forest species, and as early as 1916 Professor Pavari published a bulletin entitled " Preliminary Studies on the Cultivation of Exotic Forest Species in Italy." In 1911 he published a 600-page monograph, bringing together the results of twenty years' research on exotics, and a copy of this volume has been obtained for closer study. 107. Of the many exotic species introduced into Italy, the Institute believes the following to be worthy of special attention : Douglas fir, Lawson's cypress, Cupressus arizonica, Cupressus macrocarpa, Pinus radiata, Abies cephalonica, Cedrua atlantica, and several species of eucalyptus. Excellent three-ply veneer has been made from eleven-year old Eucalyptus rostrata after forty-eight hours' steam softening; and other species are under test at the instigation of the Institute. 108. At Yallombrosa the Institute conducts limited research on seed extraction and storage, and nursery practice, and maintains a small research laboratory and museum. 109. By reason of his intimate association and long experience with both research and education, Professor Pavari (whom the writer had previously met at Helsinki) was in a better position than any other Italian forester to convey to a foreigner these functions in true perspective. Both Professor Pavari and Dr. Allegri were most co-operative and courteous, the latter placing himself entirely at the disposal of the writer whilst in Florence, and proving to be an invaluable source of information. CHAPTER Y—FINLAND 110. Finland is essentially a country of forests and lakes, forest lands occupying over 70 per cent, of the total land area and generally being " so stony and meagre that even when considering the far future with an increase in population, profitable agriculture is not likely to use and need more than a relatively small part of it "(1) ; 50 per cent, of the total forest (31,000,000 acres) are owned by farmers. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that the vital importance of timber and its products to the national economy of Finland is reflected to a high degree in forestry research and education ; for the people of Finland are of necessity forestry conscious and the forestry profession has developed in a worthy tradition to great achievements.

43