348 EDITORIAL NOTES. [Oct. 



over to our children, in full productive power, one of our richest 

 natural resources — nay, the most potent factor of national prosperity! 

 On reading this address, it occurs to ask if our British societies 

 are but half awake to the forestal cause they too have taken in 

 hand to advocate ? 



Shortage of Canadian Spruce Timber Crop. — According to the 

 Ganadiaii Gazette of August 13th, it is confidently asserted that the 

 shortage of the spruce timber crop for this season will be fully 

 112,000,000 feet, divided as follows : — St. John's Eiver, 30,000,000 

 feet; St. Croix, 10,000,000 feet; Penobscot, 37,000,000 feet, 

 and Kennebec, 35,000,000 feet. It has already been stated 

 officially that the forests of Prince Edward's Island have dis- 

 appeared before the axes of settlers and lumbermen. How will 

 the old European countries, now so much dependent on Canadian 

 'timber imports, receive this new warning to re-afforest ? 



Money in Forests. — The Canadian Dominion may also learn as 

 to the profit of forest conservancy from the fact that the minor 

 wood industries of the United States already represent a large 

 annual sum. In 1880 bark used for tanning purposes was con- 

 sumed to the extent of nearly two millions of tons, and 17^ 

 millions of dollars. The wood used in barrels and casks came to 

 close on 34 millions of dollars ; baskets used up two millions 

 worth ; and carriage and waggon factories nearly sixty-five millions 

 worth. All this was independent of the claims of domestic and 

 naval architecture. 



The Forestal Needs of the United States. — The Mayor of 

 Clifton took occasion, in welcoming the Society of American Florists, 

 which this year held its sessions on August 13 th and 14th in the 

 neighbouring city of Cincinnati, to hope that the claims of forestry 

 would thus receive a fresh impetus. The devastations of floods, 

 which often included destruction of the surface with its native flora 

 and indigenous underwood, and the subsequent long summer droughts 

 with their fatal consequences alike to forests, springs, and landscape, 

 imperatively demand a stronger public sentiment on national tree- 

 planting. " It is not enough that we encourage the planting of 

 some thousands of ornamental trees and shrubs for the towns 

 and cities, which is but a trifling matter ; it is our solemn duty 



