is a very rare thing indeed to replace any of the forests that have been so wrought out, by planting young trees in their stead; nature is allowed to do that herself, and of course will accomplish it in a series of years. There are still a few forests in these provinces held by the crown, the first cost of which is so high that at present prices it almost precludes merchants from working them to advantage.
' The most of the timber exported from Riga at the present time comes from the provinces of Smolensk arid Vitepsk, along the banks of the river Dwina and its tributaries, but owing to the great distances at which some of the woods are situated from water communication with the river there is a good deal of extra expense incurred for the transport, and this is increasing yearly, consequently the price of timber is getting much higher to work out this one problem. In addition to the above exports there is another large demand which must make a big hole in the woods yearly, viz.: — There are 1 J,000,000 of fir logs, averaging 24 feet in length, rafted down from the above-mentioned provinces annually, and cut up into 3 inch planks and boards, and exported to England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Notwithstanding these great quantities, I am told the increasing demands can be met for a great many years to come, subject to an increase in price owing to the extra transport by water communication, which is indispensable to the trade.
* As to the titles of official reports or documents issued by the Government there is no one here can enlighten me on the subject, all saying they never heard of any such things.
There are no wholesale joinery establishments here at present, but formerly there was one in connection with a large saw-mill which was burned down about 18 months ago; and that part was not rebuilt, as it was considered by the proprietors to be a bad speculation.'
1 was supplied with a copy of a report by Mr A.
Kauffman, which had appeared in the Rijscomy Cbaesdy Laesochozaaev, and of which the following is the substance. It is headed: — To what extent is the Export Wood Trade from Higa in the future warranted hy {he Present Condition and Management of the Forests in the West Dwina Districts.
'The writer of this report thinks it necessary in order properly to treat the question of the future supply of wood for export trade, not to confine himself strictly to the consideration of the present supply of the west Dwina district sent to the port of Riga, but to embrace the principal sources of supply on the Baltic and Black Sea, to which wood is conveyed to, and exported iron), the ports of Memel, Dantzig, and Stettin— in short, to consider the whole export supply of the west and southwest country of the Dwina. Jn order to this, it is necessary at the same time to remember and to state the different branches of the home trade which derive their supply from these sources, these are— the Kherson port arid the Crimea; the arsenals and waggon factories of St Petersburg and Riga; and railway materials for their own and the southern net- work of railways. And over and above this there has to be considered the wood that is used by the inhabitants of these districts for building purposes, together with the enormous quantity used as fuel/
There is given a tabulated statement of the quantity and description of materials sent to the ports of Riga, Memel, and Dantzig, on the average of the past three years, and the overland exports for one season; and with this there is given the number of trees (arranged according to their respective ages) that were cut down in one winter to supply this quantity.
The following is a summary of exports: —
(1.) F MATURE GROWTH.
No. of trees. Cubic feet.
Pine and fir wood from 140 to 250 years old,... 1,250,450 „ and over. 373,600 = 30,548,000
(2.) F MIDDLE GROWTH.
No. of Trees. Cubic feet
Pine and fir wood, from 100 to 140 yrs. old & over 1,439,800 20,128,000
Pine and fir, from 40 to 100 years old and over, 1,650,000 11,900,000
(4.) UNDERGROUND.
Pine and fir, from 15 to 40 years old 2,550,000 = 15,300,000
There are then given the details and description of the wood used for home trade, and the respective quantities sent to such places as St Petersburg, Odessa, NicolaiefT, &c., in one year, the summary of which is given as follows: —
HOME CONSUMPTION.
F MATURE AGE.
No. of trees. Cubic feet.
Pine and fir, from 140 to 170 years old, 579,000 = 20,265,000
F MIDDLE GROWTH.
Pine and fir, from 100 to 140 years old, 559,000 = 16,810,000
Pine and fir, from 40 to 100 years old, 677,000 = 10.155,000
UNDERGROWTH.
Pine and fir, from 15 to 40 years old, 1,056,000 = 6,396.000