183 



(3.) Three things go to make the heavy rainfall on the table land : altitude, lake 

 contiguity, and tree surface. 



(4.) The fourth question is not so evident : The district of low rainfall is partly on 

 the water-shed, and therefore not low lying. Locally otherwise it has a variety of attrac- 

 tive power, and all around rainfall is more plentiful with similar agencies. I am inclined 

 to ascribe this peculiar feature of Ontario rainfall to the agency of the table land, both 

 locally and in breaking outside storms. Take the arrow as a centre path of outside 

 storms that bring rain with them ; if it strikes south of Detroit, Lake Erie appropriates 

 it ; if north of Detroit the storm is drawn both by Lake Huron and the table land, is 

 sucked into the Georgian Bay and thus clears Lake Simcoe district. 



The fifth question requires no answer other than that of a comparatively unbroken 

 forest, attracting more rain with additions from outside storms through Georgian Bay as 

 just indicated. 



I cannot see how all north of Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River there is only a 

 moderate rainfall, considering the size of the lake and the large proportion of heavily 

 timbered country adjoining. 



I have thus endeavoured to show some of the physical conditions of our Province, 

 and their intimate connection with tree surface. Of course I do not presume to pronounce 

 decidedly any conclusions on such an open field of our profession, yet it needs no deep 

 scientist to see that trees have a very great deal to do with the climate of a country, so 

 that, in pressing the claims of this^ Association upon any of our Legislatures and country- 

 men, facts are not wanting. 



It is gratifying to learn from the foregoing paper that in two-thirds of the Province 

 of Ontario from fifty to seventy-five per cent, of the natural forest is still standing, and 

 that in none of it is there less than twenty per cent., and that, taking the Province as a 

 whole, there is probably one-half of the natural forest yet remaining. It is then not too 

 late to adopt a system of forest management which shall secure this source of wealth in 

 perpetuity, by preventing reckless cutting, guarding against losses by fires and the 

 trampling and browsing of cattle, and by encouraging the planting of trees where such 

 planting would be profitable. 



The rate at which our forests are being consumed for lumber may be approximately 

 gathered from the following paper, read at the Montreal meeting, by Mr. G. L. Marler, of 

 Montreal, who said that he had an experience of twenty years on the south side of the 

 St. Lawrence, and might, therefore, speak with some authority on the subject of his paper. 



THE DENUDATION OF OUB FORESTS. 



The subject of this paper — The Denudation of our Forest Trees — has been one which 

 has often presented itself to my mind, and I shall lay before this meeting the most salient 

 points, and endeavour to be brief in my remarks, but at the same time bring before you 

 the most important points. 



The Province of Quebec is the principal territory from whence the mercantile lumber 

 is drawn. When I say mercantile lumber I speak of those trees which make up the 

 lumber trade, and are taken from the following lists : — 



1st Division — Canadian Trees, Leaf-Bearing. 



Quercus Oak 



Ulmus campestris Elm 



Fraxinus Ash 



Betula Birch 



Juglans Walnut 



Juglans cinerea Butternut 



