Abstract
VEGETATION in the fossil or recent state forms the main source of the wealth and prosperity of most nations, either directly or indirectly: directly, in the case of the vast subterranean deposits of the remains of former plant-life in Britain, as also in the broad expanses of land covered with timber-trees in Russia. According to recent statistics* the extent of the forests of Russia in Europe is about 442,897,500 acres, or forty per cent, of the whole area. The forests are very unequally distributed, and internal communication is still very imperfect in many parts of the empire; hence much of this wealth is at present unavailable. Every year, however, the facilities for transport are increased, and there is a corresponding augmentation in the amount realised. Nearly sixty-five per cent, of the forest land is situate in the four governments of the North—Archangel, Vologda, Olonetz, and Perm; this equals sixty-five acres to each inhabitant. The governments of the South are relatively poor in timber, and in some parts almost treeless; but since 1842 the forest administration has been engaged in remedying this defect by planting largely. Between 1866 and 1870 upwards of 20,000 acres were planted, exclusive of the action of private owners. The principal trees are the Scotch pine, spruce fir, larch, birch, lime, aspen, and oak. To these may be added for the governments of the South, though relatively playing an unimportant part in commerce, the elm, ash, beech, hornbeam, maple, various poplars and willows, &c. The value of the forest products exported in 1871 amounted to 16,026,553 roubles, of which more than one-third came to this country. But the internal consumption gives a better idea of the immense wealth of these forests. It is only possible to give an approximate estimate of the value, which Mr. Werekha states must be at the very least 265,450,000 roubles per annum. In Russia, wood is still either the only or the principal fuel used. The railways consume wood for fuel to the annual value of 7,200,000 roubles. Wooden drinking-vessels, platters and spoons, take the place of pottery and metal in many districts, except in the houses of the rich. Mr. Werekha estimates that forty million wooden spoons are made every year; but Mr. Wesch-niakorf, in his account of the domestic industries of Russia, puts the figure at thirty millions.
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Russian Forests . Nature 11, 251–252 (1875). https://doi.org/10.1038/011251a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/011251a0