1S83.] EDITORS BOX. 15 1 



any oil-store at from Is. 6cl. to 2s. per gallon, and the naphtha at any 

 tar refinery at about Is. per <;allon. 



After the tar is removed, the part of the tree that had Ijeen so 

 tarred, may be rubbed over with the oil foots alone, and this should 

 be allowed to remain on, as it will have an influence in counteracting 

 the effects of the tar and its poisonous contents. 



X. AlILBOTTX. 



The Ontario Forests.— At the instance of the Government of the Province 

 of Ontario, an exhaustive report upon the necessity of preserving and rei)lanting 

 forests ha.s just been compiled by Mr. 11. W. Phipps, of Toronto. The subject 

 is one in which increasing interest is being shown in the Dominion, and the 

 report in question deals with it very comprehensively. The writer first calls 

 attention to the vast wealth the jtrovince originally possessed in its forests. 

 AYheu the paddles of the Frenchmen first In-oke the waters of Toronto Bay, 

 he remarks, Ontario, from the Detroit to the Ottawa, was under the roof of 

 the forest and contained, in the opinion of one of the best qualified judges 

 in the United States, perhaps the most valuable masses of timber which ever 

 existed in a region of its size. Pine, Maple, Beech, Ash, and White Oak were 

 possibly most jirominent, but Hickory, Hemlock, Ironwood, and the Silver Birch 

 were scarcely less abundant. The early settlers, however, directly after arrival 

 began the work of destruction with a ruthless hand. They required the land, 

 and there was no demand for timber. Hence square mile after 3({uare mile 

 of forest was destroyed by fire — a process which went on for yeai-s, and which 

 has been followed up by the operations of the lumbermen. The result is that 

 the cultivated portions of Ontario will speedily become almost denuded of 

 trees, while the lumbermen are comi)elled now to go great distances for the 

 superior quality of Pine which they used to get much nearer home a few 

 years ago. Apart from any consideration as to the future of the lumber trade 

 which it may suggest, this state of things is obviously of much significance 

 to the agriculturist ; and it is chiefly this aspect of the matter which is dis- 

 cussed in Mr. Phipps's report. The consequences are, indeed, likely to prove 

 so serious that, in the opinion of the writer, the whole of Ontario is in great 

 danger of heavy loss, unless action be taken in time by the authorities. At 

 the close of a somewhat elaborate inquiry, the report recommends the pre- 

 servation of the higher lands in forest, and the acquisition and replanting of 

 such lands where they have been already cleared ; economy in the utilization 

 of the great forests in the north-eastern and north-western portions of the 

 province ; the adoption of adequate measures for protection against forest 

 fires ; and lastly, the planting of trees, as ' wind-breaks,' on highways and 

 along the dividing lines of farms. By these means it is thought the climatic 

 influences of the forests may be preserved, and the lumber supply, &c., main- 

 tained in perpetuity. What action the Ontario Government may take on the 

 strength of these recommendations is not yet known, but their appreciation of 

 the importance of the subject is shown by their authorising the gratuitous dis- 

 tribution of a large number of coi)ies of the report among the farmers of the 

 province. 



