FORESTRY IN SWEDEN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17395, 4 March 1922, Page 13

FORESTRY IN SWEDEN.

The following particulars regarding forestry matters in Sweden are taken from an article by Edward Bock, published in the "Pulp and Paper" magazine, and throw much interesting light on the methods employed. He writes s—r

The Swedish publio forests are managed by the Swedish Forest Service, operated as part' ot the national, Department of Agriculture- 'i'fie service is governed by a director-general and sis assistant directors, with distinct foresters, assistant foresters, forest engineers, etc., for each of." the" several districts into which the publio forests are divided. The service is organised on semi-military lines. It has a ■ distinctive uniform and a very pronounced esprit de corps. The Forest Service has complete _ control over the State forests and either su'permes or manages the other publicly owned forests, such as those owned by various counties, villages, parishes, and communities, many of which, by the: way, derive considerable income from the. proceeds of their forest possessions. It has charge of the execution of the laws governing- the management of all forests and 1 of cutting and all other regulations. Its officers pay visits of inspection to private as well as public forests to see that the laws are being observed. . Taxes on private forests have risen considerably charing and since the war, and now amount, in some instances, to as much as 40 to -15 per cent, .on the income derived from, them.^; -There is, however, no impfifctant tax imposed on standing timber, it has been thought that such a tax, besides being an inducement to unnecessary cutting, might deter, private capital frqin being employed in-reforestation. t The State Forest Service derives its revenue from the sale of standing timber and in other ways- • It shows an annual surplus. It expends about 50 pei- cent, of its income on forest improvements and upkeep. Education plays an important part, in Swedish forestry. The Government spares' no expense in educating and; training picked'men for forest work in both its higher and its less important branches. A college of forestry, has been in existence here since 1828. It is now located on beautiful grounds on the'outskirts of Stockholm, in . buildings especially erected anfl well-adapted to its purpose. It" gives instruction in both theoretic and practical forestry, its course covering, tnvee years. The entrance requirements include nine months of practical training in the field,. as well as a certificate of graduation from a high school or college. It is said to be without an equal m Europe. Its courses are in such demand that would-be entrants have to go through a preliminary elimination trial, which only two-thirds of those entering survive- Its graduates are in great demand for both governmental and private service. t