Author Description

Selostus vuonna 1713 julkaistusta Hannss Carl von Carlowitzin teoksesta Sylvicultura Oeconomica / An Account of Sylvicultura Oeconomica by Hannss Carl von Carlowitz, Published in 1713 --- The Finnish Forest Research Institute which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 1988 has decided to publish a Finnish translation of the Sylvicultura Oeconomica, a classical Central European textbook of silviculture. Part of the work has also been translated into English. The Sylvicultura Oeconomica, which is over 250 years old and contains 432 printed pages of difficult to read text, has been translated by members of the Department of Silviculture. The book provides those working on the everyday problems of silviculture with a profound insight into an era which has long since passed us by. Sylvicultura Oeconomica was the first publication in Continental Europe covering forestry alone. Carlowitz, director of metallurgy in the Electorate of Saxony, has presented in its 432 pages the information collected during his lifetime about the management, utilization and regeneration of "wild trees" and forests formed from such trees. After the Thirty Years War, densely populated Europe was threatened by a great shortage of wood and subsequent damaging consequences. In those days wood was almost the only source of energy for both household and industrial use. The earnest appeals, exhortations and advice of Sylvicultura should be seen against this background. Although Sylvicultura is primarily concerned with describing the techniques of coppicing, it also treats a number of techniques that are familiar in present-day management of forests. The utilization of fuel peat is also described. Carlowitz's devout Christianity and humble admiration of the wonders of nature leave a clear mark on the book. The publication includes an English translation of the titles of the 835 paragraphs listed in the original table of contents of Sylvicultura.