1915] The Ottawa Naturalist. 29 



MEETINGS OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



February 20th, 1915, at the residence of Mr. R. B. Whyte. 

 ^ Mr. J. R. Dickson, of the Forestry Branch, spoke on the subject 

 " Forestry in Canada." Mr. Tulley, of the same Branch, also gave 

 a synopsis of the administrative data relating to the Forestry 

 Branch and showed a series of very interesting lantern slides, 

 illustrating forestry problems. 



Mr. Dickson aptly emphasized the inconceivable quantities 

 of timber used each year in Canada by pointing out that the 

 railway companies used one hundred and fifty millions of ties 

 each year, that the 1911 cut was five billion feet board measure, 

 and other facts involving stupendous figures. In a condensed 

 yet clear and forceful way, he toviched on most of the great sub- 

 jects comprehended in the term "forestry," forestry, as he de- 

 cribed it, being "The Parent of Industries." 



He stated that information available shows that on 60% 

 of the cropable land, timber can be more profitably grown than 

 farm crops. The science of forest management seeks first to 

 ensure the permanence of the lumbering industry, and, secondly, 

 to gain the many other auxiliary benefits, which nourish the life 

 of a nation. The ftmdamental importance of wood in nearly 

 all phases of indtistrial life was emphasized. At present, there 

 is a very small stand of merchantable timber in the so-called 

 " Great Northern Spruce Forest," the mature timber having been 

 nearly all swept away by repeated fires during the past century. 

 An analogous condition exists in our southern hardwood belt — 

 but due to cutting rather than fire. Last year some 60% of 

 the hardwood used in Canadian woodworking industries was 

 imported. 



It was pointed out that the main elements of a forest policy 

 for Canada must be: 



(1) Education of public opinion in order to provide the 

 authority, the money, the driving power. 



(2) Classification, according to its producing capacity, of 

 all publicly owned land, to provide for permanence of use. 



(3) A plan of cordial and mutually profitable co-operatiou 

 on an equitable basis of duties and rewards. 



(4) Organization on a strictly non-partisan basis, of a trained 

 and efficient forest service personnel. 



(5) Provision and equipment for investigation and re- 

 search work relating to forest problems. 



(6) Whatever legislation may be required to place trained 

 men in charge of our forest lands, and insure uniform require- 

 ments from every forest user. 





