Was just about to mention that. In Roman times much of Germania was forest. I suspect the wood was utilized in the following centuries, but by the 1850s or so m

Was just about to mention that. In Roman times much of Germania was forest. I suspect the wood was utilized in the following centuries, but by the 1850s or so much of the old growth was utilized and the need for large wooden ships was subsiding. I suspect from there onward we saw an increasing utilization of iron, coal and steel. Many woods grew back. Sure not hundred plus year old trees, but 80-100 year old trees can still make a forest