LIV THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA' 



In reply to these objections it may be said that there are now 

 enormous areas of land standing waste, that is to say, they are either 

 destitute of trees or growing trees which are of no value. If the 

 governments were to secure certain of these areas and cultivate for- 

 ests on them by following the well known principles of forest practice 

 worked out and proved to be so efficient and effective in every country 

 in Europe, they would not only be establishing a profitable invest- 

 ment for public funds but would present to private owners a striking 

 example of what can be accomplished by the application of knowl- 

 edge to industry. We are assured by a forester of no less experience 

 than Dr. Fernow that with the present stumpage of white pine in 

 Canada, the cost of planting can be covered and a return of at least 

 4 per cent compound nterest can be obtained, while other kinds 

 of wood are fast reaching a value which would well repay the cost of 

 reproduction. 



Such forests of choice pine or other woods, which are each year 

 becoming more difficult to secure, would 75 years hence be of enormous 

 value both as a source of revenue to the Government and of wood sup- 

 ply to the people of the country. 



But in addition to supplying timber, the forests of a country 

 play two other very important roles: namely, that of equalizing the 

 flow of rivers and of preserving the land itself from being washed 

 away in times of heavy rain. 



Beneath the trees of a forest a thick mantle of leaves and twigs 

 covers the ground. These rest upon humus produced by the decay of 

 leaves which have fallen in former years and which is very porous. 

 This material, sheltered from the sun in the shadow of the forest, is 

 like a sponge which is capable of absorbing several inches of rainfall, 

 which is allowed to escape only very gradually. 



When, therefore, the forest cover is preserved on the gathering 

 ground or catchment-basin of rivers, the rain falling on this forest 

 area drains away very slowly into the brooks and streams, which tends 

 in a very marked manner to equalize the flow of the rivers and to lessen 

 the dangers of floods. In the deserts of Arizona, where the forest cover 

 is wanting, within twenty minutes of the first muttering of the thunder 

 presaging a sudden cloud-burst, the rain falling on the surface and drain- 

 ing off immediately into one of the tributaries of the Colorado river, 

 will change this from a narrow stream into a raging torrent thirty or 

 forty feet deep, filling the canon from wall to wall, and the stream 

 after remaining in flood for a short time will subside again with equal 

 rapidity. This is merely a rather striking illustration of the fact that 

 the lack of forest cover on the drainage area of a river causes the river 

 to run with a very uneven discharge, at one time in violent flood and 



