6

WILDBAD.

CHAM. I.

wliicli makcs one giddy to look at. Only a small streak of the blue sky is visible above, but the exuberant Iife of na- ture clotbes the dead rocks witli velvet green, and from the niossy clefts grow bailging shrubs and tall pines. — These cataracts, callcd llutlenschrö/fen , have beeil made accessible by means of wooden stairs and bridges thrown across their niost picturesque parts, so that tbe visitor may enjoy this grand spectacle witbout tbe least danger. — At tbe fo- rester’s bouse near the ruins of tbe Abbey refresbmcnts can be obtained.

By far tbe grcatest portion of the Black Forest is covered with woods of fine timber, in wliicli the silver-fir occupies tbe first place. 1t riscs to a height of from 90 to 120 F., witli a diametcr of2— 3 F. Tbere is a specimen extant of cven 145 F. in height and 6 F. in diameter. They are com- monly bcwn after 115" years growtli, and then tbe average produce of timber from one Morgen (about 0,78 acre) amounts to 261 trees, eacli 105 F. in length, witli 21,318 cubic feef of wood; — representing an animal growtli of 185,4 cubic feet or upwards of 1% cords. Tbe beecli also is abundant in the Black Forest, vvbere it is found in a normal state up to 4000 F. above tbe sea-level. — Otlier trees one often meets with, are: tbe Lime, tbe Bircli, tbe Oak, (quercus robur and quercus pedunculata) tbe Maple, the Spruce-, Scotch, and Red Fir, wliicli in tbe bighest regions give room to tbe Dwarf Pine ( pinus pumilio). Generally speaking, most of tbe hundred species of trees, reckoned indigenous to Germany, are to be found here ; — aniongst their nuniber tbe Wood-Cherry , peculiar to the Black Forest, from wliosc fruit the cele- brated Kirschwasser is distilled.

Tbe enornious quantities of wood produced annually in tbe Black Forest, not only afford an abundant source of riches to tbe proprietors, but also a regulär income to tbe