376 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the last three years, owing to differences between Canada and the 

 United States regarding the duty to be paid on timber. The 

 exports are chiefly represented by raw material. On the other 

 hand, Canada imports worked-up timber, chiefly from the United 

 States, valued as follows : — 



Period 1885-89, mean annual value, 

 ,, 1890-94, ,, ,, 



,, 1895-99, 



£497,000 

 £548,000 

 £639,000 



These imports have steadily risen. 



It is of the highest importance t,o inquire into the yield-capacity 

 of the Canadian forests. The following Table shows their areas: — 



Table XII. — Showing the Area of Forest in the Dominion of Canada. 



In round figures, Canada has 800,000,000 acres of land classed 

 as forests, but it has been stated by the Chief Inspector of Timber 

 and Forestry for Canada that only one-third of the area, or 

 266,000,000 acres, can be considered as timber-lands, the rest 

 being covered with small growth, of some use locally, but of little, 

 if any, merchantable value. The area of timber-lands and the 

 quota per head of population are so great that no failing of future 

 supplies should be possible. Nevertheless, Mr George Johnson, 

 the Statistician of the Dominion, gives anything but a flourishing 

 account of the state of affairs. The white pine used to be the 

 principal item in the exports. It has now fallen to one-fifth of the 

 amount of thirty years ago, spruce having gradually taken its place. 

 Of the latter species, enormous quantities are said to exist, but 



