The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-17
The Forests of the World.

The forests of Europe are estimated. as
being 500,000,000 acres in extent, OF
about twenty per cent. of the whole area
Of the Continent. In North America it is
reckoned that 1,46O,0OO,OOO acres are
covered with trees, of which area 900 900, :
900 are in British North America. Tn
South America forests occupy 100000
900 acres. The total amount for the two
continents Of the New World and Europe
gives 100000 geographical miles. The
proportion of forest land to the whole area
Of Europe, as above stated, is computed
at twenty per cent; in America twenty -one
per cent. Surprising, therefore, twenty
per cent. to be the proportion in Asia,
Africa and Australia, the grand total of
the forests Of the world cover space of
7,734,O00 geographical miles The areas
of State forests and woodlands are estima-
ted at the following figures in the follow
ing European countries Prussia, 6,200,-
900 acres; Bavaria, 1924, 900 acres ;
France, 100000; Austria, 2,23O 900 !;
Hanover, 100000; Wurtemburg, 469,-
OS7; Saxony, $4,000; England, 1885.
The range in the height of trees varies
from the miniature Alpine willow of few
inches to the stupendous Wellingtonia,
which grows to height of $50 feet,
although, indeed, it is stated that one of
eucalypti often reaches height Of 420
feet in Victoria. In Sclavonia tree called
the sapin attains height of 275 feet, aud
the umbrella pines of Italy 200 feet The
California big tree is said to girth 80 feet.
The destruction Of woods and forests,
however, is very enormous, and in the
majority of instances no attempts are being
made for their reproduction. In South
Africa, we are told, millions of acres are
destroyed and made waste annually. In
New Zealand the 80 per cent. of forest
existing in 1880 had sunk to 2s in 1868,
and to lS in 1873, which rate Of diminu-
tion if continued would result in the total
destruction Of the New Zealand forests by
1889. In America, in the United States
especially, the consumption of timber is
enormous, and although public attention
has been called to the matter and the
United States Statute of March, 1875, i'm
poses fine Of $500, or years imprison-
ment, for wanton injury or destruction
Of trees, and also fine Of $500, or six
months Imprisonment, for allowing cattle
to injure trees "on National grounds = the
yearly consumption and improyident use Of
timber is almost incredible. Although,
says the Scientific american, there are no
available statistics to show the exact rate
of speed with which we are using up the
wood supply, it is easy to see that it is
being done with great rapidity. Taking
the Legitimate use of humber alone, indus
tries based on its manufacture constitute
the second point Of magnitude in Amcri-
ca, aud are only exceeded by the ircn in
terests. About $1,000 persons are stated
to be employed III producing sawed lumber
alone; S143,500, 900 are invested therein, l
"and 3,265, 100000 shingles aud 1885,
100000 feet of timber are yearly manu-
factured.' On the secondary Industries
based on the use of lumber as raw ma. |
terial, carpentry, cabinet making, ship
building, ETC., millions Of people are en-
ployed According to Professor Brewers |
assertion, wood forms the fuel of two
thirds 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 enor-
nous drain upon American forests that is
in progress. As fact, it is
well known that in 1871 as many as TO-
900 acres Of forests were stripped of their
timber to supply Chicago with fuel, and
yet no attempt is made to reproduce
Land and Water.