Forestry Volume 14-16; Annual Report of the Forestry Commissioner (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 Excerpt: ...the provinces of Archangel and Vologda, varies from 14 inches to 15 inches breast high, while trees of 21 inches and even 265 inches in diameter are found. The average diameter of oak trees is also difficult to establish, but it may be fixed at 15 to 21 inches, while gigantic oaks are found having from 43 to 52 inches in diameter breast high. Question 3.--Explain briefly the way in which the state sells its standing timber? Notwithstanding the growing importance which the exploitation of forests has taken in Russia it rarely occurs that the proprietors manage their own estates; the forests are generally divided into small lots and sold to the highest bidder. The sale of forests belonging to the Domains and the Imperial Cabinet are generally advertised for sale, six months in advance. The bidders present their offers in sealed envelopes which are opened on a day fixed for this purpose in their presence. They may make bids for a number of lots or for the whole forest, depositing from 10 to 20 per cent of the contract value as guarantee for the proper execution of the contract. The party who has made the highest bid receives the permit to cut the trees, and, if he deposits the entire value of the contract, he receives the permit to carry away the timber. The trees are cut down for the most part in Russia from October 28th to March 28th. Hand labor is abundant in the north of Russia, where forestry constitutes the main resource of existence of the population, as well as in the central and western provinces, where the peasants have no other winter labor. Labor is paid by tree or beam or rafter, or by the fathom for wood to be used as fuel. The average day costs from 45 to 50 copeks (2 2j/ tc 25 cents) per laborer in the basin of the Vistula, while it becom...