THE 



CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



SECOND SEEIES. 



THE REMOVAL AND RESTORATION OF FORESTS. 



By J. W. Dawson, LL D. s F.K.S., &c* 



The woods perish by the axe and by fire, either purposely 

 applied for their destruction, or accidental. Forest fires have 

 not been confined to the period of European occupation. The 

 traditions of the Indians tell of extensive ancient conflagrations ; 

 and it is believed that some of the aboriginal names of places in 

 Nova Scotia (for example, Chebucto, Chedabucto, Plctou) origin- 

 ated in these events. In later times, however, fires have been 

 more numerous and destructive. In clearing land, the trees 

 when cut down are always burned, and that this may be effected 

 as completely as possible, the driest weather is frequently 

 selected, although the fire is then much more likely to spread 

 into the surrounding woods. It frequently happens that the 

 woods contain large quantities of dry branches and tops of trees, 

 left by cutters of timber and firewood, who rarely consider any 

 part of the tree except the trunk worthy of their attention. 

 Even without this preparation, however, the woods may in dry 

 weather be easily inflamed ; for, although the trunks and foliage 

 of growing trees are not very combustible, the mossy vegetable 

 soil, much resembling peat, burns easily and rapidly. Upon this 

 mossy soil depends, in a great measure, the propagation of fires, 

 the only exception being when the burning of groves of the 

 resinous coniferous trees is assisted by winds, causing the flame 

 to stream through their tops more rapidly than it can pass along 



*From 'Acadian Geology,' second edition. 

 Vol. III. Y * No. 6. 



