Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-26
FORESTS IN SAXONY.
state owns Nearly One-HaR OF the
Entire Area.

saxonv has been one of the most sue
cessful countries In the handling of its
forests, the State owning about 45 per
cent of the whole forest area, or AZ, $50
acres. of which only 1858 were non-pro-
d,ctiye. The chief timbers raised are the
Norway spruce and Scotch pine, with
some areas of silver fir, larch. oak, beech
and other hardwoods. Ninety-six per
cent. OF the State forests are in conlfers,
because these woods have been found the
most profitable for raising. While 1t has
been easily proved that the ~conifers nre
more profitable than the hardwoods, 1t Is
more difficult to decide between spruce
and nine. some of the Saxon foresters
fa yoring one, some the other. Some soils
are particularly adapted for the spruce,
and some for the pine, but large areas
can he equally we'll used for either species.
| Very little damage IL lone In Saxony, or
| other parts OF Germany, by forest fires.
The chief enemy OF Saxon forests are
! high wind storms, as can be readily un-
derstood from the large percentage of
spruce, which have shallow root systems,
similar to those OF the American spruce.
Snow also does considerable damage. and
in certain localities a good deal Of damage
Is also done by the red deer, especially to
the spruce. SO that It is necessary to pro-
tect the young stands of spruce by fcnc-
ing.
The dense population of Saxony makes
marketing OF the wood materia! very
profitable. Numerous woodworking in
dustries exist in different parts Of the
State. Before establishing such an In
dustry, the owner first looks about to see
where he can find a permanent supply 90
wood or lumber. such as he requires, and
when located he can be sure that the sup
ply will never be- cut off. One of the most
interesting manufactures of this kind Is
the toy-making industry of Erzgebirge.
The rougher part OF the work is done in
the factory, and the finishing off and
painting of the toys is carried on in the
homes of the workers.
One of the things that makes forestry
so profitable in Saxony is the splendid
condition Of the forest roads. Almost
every area is penetrated with a good road
system. The forests are usually allowed
to grow for a period OF so years, which is
considered the economic rotation. Then
the mature timber is cut of and young
forests are at once planted. This Is con-
trary to the practice of natural reproduc-
| lIOll III tu III plil Wv Dai - u wv
many. The total gross income from the
State forests in 1911 was about A,147, 900
but the expenses of management were
$1,666, 600: leaving a net profit of 81. AGO. 600
or $50 per acre. The expenses of man
agement include such items as wood
choppers awges. $751;. $50; administrator
500. $50; improvement work, including
planting, 1898, $50. It Is of interest to note
.IzA A. 1,,o. lx- arr ~
the enormous sum of 800, 7sO, OOo, or ar
average of $2y an acre. The individual
forests vary In size from 1900 to 400
acres, and experience there, as elsewhere
shows that the larger forests are NOR
profitable.
The Idea of the foresters in saxony is tc
get just as large a net profit as possible
, from his land. while the prevailing idet
In Prussia, which also has extensive for
ests, Is to supply the greatest amount o
lumber for the home industries.
This record of accomplishment in tn,
forests of saxony should he Of interest t,
Vermonters, since the natural condition
here are fully equal to those of Saxony
II IL per cent. of the forested area of Yer
mont were purchased by the State, !
would form a State forest as large as tina
of Saxony, and In time Vermont Nigh
expect to have an income of the same pro
portion. There would be a permanen
supply OF timber for the numerous HON
industries; the forests would nave an I'm
portant effect IN stream-fow, and tn
private land owners of the State woul,
have splendid examples of the best fores
M management. which could not fail t
bring about a wise forest practice anon
these owners as It has in Germany.