Forestry in Nova Scotia 13 



ion is strongly against setting forest fires. In the mining regions 

 fires have commonly been widespread and very destructive. The 

 miner wants to get rid of the trees and soil which cover up the 

 bed rock. The treeless and barren aspect of the south shore of 

 Nova Scotia is directl)^ attributable to the gold mining projects 

 which have been carried on there. 



As an example of the results of the Nova Scotian method of 

 lumbering, conditions on an actual tract of 30,000 acres may be 

 cited. For the last 10 years about 6 million feet of timber have 

 been cut annually. This has been almost entirely pine and 

 spruce. Hemlock and the hardwoods have not been touched 

 and only an occasional large fir taken. No trees under 12 inches 

 in diameter breast high were felled. The logging was done with 

 oxen handled by careful workmen so that there was no such 

 wholesale slashing of the woods as accompanies railroad logging. 

 Today this property contains much valuable hemlock and hard- 

 wood, large enough for saw timber, in addition to a young thrift}' 

 growth of spruce, pine and fir fit either for wood pulp or valuable 

 to hold for future growth. Near a pulp mill such a tract would 

 be worth at least $5 per acre, after yielding a net annual income 

 of over $20,000 for the last 10 years. 



Briefly summarizing. Nova Scotia may be cited as a proof that 

 where there is little danger of windfall a spruce forest may be 

 handled by the selection system; actual practical experience shows 

 that profitable annual cuts may be made annually, and yet the 

 productive capacity of the forest is not impaired. 



Karl W. Woodward. 



