The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-03-16
'vERM0NTS LESSON FROM SAxONY.
Regarding the Handling of the Forestry
Problem.

Saxony 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 445,3s0
acres, of which only 1868 were non
productive. The chief timbers raised
are the Norway spruce and Scotch pine,
with some areas of silver fir, larch, oak,
beech and other hard woods. Ninety-six
per cent of the state forests are in conf
| fers, because these woods have been
found the most profitable for raising.
While it has been easily proved that
| the conifers are more profitable than
| the hardwoods, it is more difficult to de-
eide between spruce and pine, some of
the Saxon foresters favor one, some the
other. Some soils are particularly
adapted for the spruce, and some for
| the pine, but large areas can be equally
well used for either species. Very lit
tie damage is done in 'Saxony, or other
parts of Germany, by forest fires, as
can be readily understood from the large
percentage of spruce, which have shallow
root systems, similar to those of the
American spruce. Snow also does con-
siderable damage, and in certain local
tiles a good deal of damage is also done
by the red deer, especially to the spruce,
so that it is necessary to protect the
young stands of spruce by fencing.
The dense population of Saxony makes
marketing of the wood material very
profitable. Numerous wood working 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 permanent sup
ply of wood or lumber, such as he re-
quires, and when located he can be sure
that the supply will never be cut off.
One of the most interesting manufac-
turtles of this kind is the toy-making in
dnstry 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 work
ers.
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 rota-
ton. Then the mature timber is cut off
This is contrary to the practice Of nat
ural reproduction employed in some 9TH
er parts of Germany. The total gross
income from the state forests in 1911,
was about $4,l47 900, but the expenses
of management were 81 100000; leaving
net profit of S2,4S0,000, or $3.50 per
acre. The expenses of management in
clude such items as wood-choppcrs'
wages S55l $50; administration, $780,
900; improvement work, including plant
ing, S293, $50 1t is of interest to note
that the government values its forests
at the enormous sum of $l00,7S0,000, |
or an average of 1927 an acre. The in
dividual forests vary in size from 5000
to $4,000 acres. and experience there, as
elsewhere, shows that the larger for
ests are more profitable.
The idea of the forester in Saxony
is to get just as large net profit as
possible from his land, while the pre-
vailing idea in Prussia, which also has |
extensive forests, is to supply the great |
est amount of lumber for the home in |
dustries.
This record of accomplishment in the |
forests of Saxony should be Of interest |
to Vermonters, since the natural condi-
lions here are fully equal to those in
Saxony. If II per cent of the forested |
area of Vermont were purchased by the !
state, it would form a state forest as
large as that of Saxony, and in time
Vermont might expect to have an in
come of the same proportion. There
would be permanent supply OF tim
Der for the numerous home industries; |
the forests would have an important eff
feet on streamfow, and the private land |
owners of the state would have splendid |
examples of the best forest manage I
ment; which could not fail to bring
about wise forest practice among these
owners as it has in Germany.