NOTES 259 



woods which had been cut over by the Laurentide Company on their 

 limits in Quebec. While Dr. Howe is careful not to generalize too far 

 from the limited basis of facts ascertained, we do not see any reason 

 why in general terms his findings would not apply to the thousands of 

 square miles of similar type woods that have been or will be subjected 

 to similar treatment in Quebec and Ontario, the great sources of pulp- 

 wood supplies. 



In the first place, Dr. Howe finds that in the mixed stands of hard- 

 woods and conifers, which are the rule, balsam fir leads, with 36 per 

 cent ; yellow birch comes next, with 26 per cent, and red spruce, with 

 only 20 per cent, the balance being minor species. The determination 

 of the upland spruce, practically all, as Picea rubra comes rather as a 

 surprise, extending, as it does, the field of this Adirondack and Mari- 

 time province species farther west and north than it had been credited. 



The preponderance of the balsam fir, which in general had been 

 known before, is of significance both from the present supply point of 

 view and that of reproduction. As long as water transportation must 

 be relied upon, a considerable loss from sinkers must be expected from 

 fir; besides, considerable damage by rot makes this material less valu- 

 able. 



The white pine, which formerly overtowered the mixed woods and 

 gave to them a decidedly coniferous character, is almost entirely eradi- 

 cated, even down to the young specimens and regeneration, except on 

 borders of lakes, swamps, and other open places. Growth studies on 

 some 2,000 trees and countings on many sample areas to determine the 

 character of the stand per acre were made. 



In the address before the commission, Dr. Howe most clearly and 

 simply, for the comprehension of the veriest layman, traces the changes 

 that take place as a sequence to the cutting of the pulpwood and what 

 growth to expect. 



As regards the diameter increment, the 4 to 8 inch poles were found 

 to be 80 to 100 years old, the 8 to 12 inch class 100 to 150 years ; so that 

 it would take at least 50 years for the latter and 70 years for the former 

 to grow into the 1 2-inch minimum diameter for spruce in Quebec — not 

 an inviting outlook for private enterprise ! 



Of the 635 seedlings of spruce found on the average per acre, the 

 mortality rate was determined such as to reduce them to six when near 

 commercial size, and the percentage of loss is still greater in balsam. 



The growth of the spruce is so slow beneath the overtopping hard- 

 woods, and there are so few survivors per acre in the intense struggle 

 for existence, that the future is hopeless from the standpoint of the 



