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large quantities of timber. These circumstances, in addition to
forest fires, injury caused by insects, and the increasing
consumption caused by the increase of the population and the demands
of trade, have been the constant cause of the gradual disappearance
of the forests of the country, while imprudent or reckless cutting,
excessive grazing and similar circumstances, have prevented their
recovery by growth, the consequence being that the forest-land in
the weather-beaten regions of the country has been turned into a
desolate wilderness, as may now be seen along the coast and on
the bare plateaus of the mountains. The outfarming in the south,
and the breeding of reindeer in the north continue this work of
destruction this very day. Attention was early called to the
disappearance of the forest, and since about the middle of the
sixteenth century attempts have been made to stop the devastation
by different legal enactments, especially directed against the cutting
for export sale, and against the free carrying on of saw-mills.
Most of these restrictions, which often combined heavy penalties
with unreasonable and impracticable regulations, were repealed in
1795. The saw-mill privileges, however, were only done away
with in 1860. The wood industry since that time has been free.
Every private person has been able to treat his forest as he
pleases; and this freedom, combined with the improved
communication and the high timber-prices, has caused many a mountain
forest to be permanently destroyed, and many a lowland forest to
be injured for a long time to come. The forest act of June
22nd, 1863, prevented the establishment of ruinous rights of use.
But the continued illtreatment of private forests has compelled
the state authorities to take still further steps. By an act of June
27th, 1892, the exportation of forest products from the three
northernmost counties has been forbidden, and by an act of July
20th, 1893, the municipalities have had the opportunity afforded
them of protecting such forests as are necessary for the sheltering
of the other growing forests, or forests which seem liable to be
destroyed by illtreatment. When at the end of the century, we
still have so many mountain and polar forests left, this is often
due to the fact that the state has from time immemorial owned
these out-of-the-way regions, which have become valuable on
account of the improved facilities of transit and the high prices
prevailing at the present time; half a century ago, before a public
administration of the forests had been organised, it was especially
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