REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. 243 



the extent of burnt areas : the condition of reproduction : the 

 character of the barrens or relatively unproductive areas : the 

 natural meadow lands : and the cleared lands. Studies on the 

 rate of growth were also made which showed that the popular 

 idea that spruce in Nova Scotia grows at an extraordinary rate 

 is quite erroneous. To produce a red spruce tree 12 inches 

 in diameter on the stump requires from 50 years for the most 

 favoured trees to 170 for those which have been shaded for a 

 long time ; or in other words, i inch in diameter is formed in 

 the best average cases in 6 or 7 years and in poorer conditions 

 in 14 years. Amongst second growth the results are better, 

 I inch being made in 5 years on old pastures and in 7 years in 

 the forest. 



Most of the land of the province has been sold to settlers, 

 largely in small lots — only about i"5 million acres remaining in 

 the Crown. The result as regards the timbered areas is that 

 less than half the area is owned in large holdings of 10,000 to 

 250,000 acres, while the remainder is owned in holdings which 

 rarely exceed 1000 acres in extent. The Crown lands consist 

 largely of barrens and semi-barrens, which, however, possess 

 a present or prospective value sufficient to warrant careful 

 investigation and conservative management. 



A geological map and a map of forest distribution accompany 

 the report. The latter map, which is divided into four sheets 

 for the sake of convenience in handling, shows by means of 

 colours and other markings the following divisions : — virgin 

 forest, moderately culled, severely culled, and second growth. 

 These again are subdivided into hardwood, mixed and coniferous 

 forests. This map also shows the areas occupied by the barren, 

 " fires," farms, and young growth. To one accustomed to home 

 conditions the vast area coloured as "fires" is amazing. 



The principal conifers are red spruce {Picea rubra), white 

 spruce {Picea canadensis), balsam fir {Abies balsaniea), and 

 hemlock {Tsuga canadensis): while of the broad-leaf trees the 

 principal are beech {Fagiis Americana), sugar maple {Acer 

 saccharuDi), yellow birch {Betula luiea), and paper or white 

 birch {Betula papyrifera). In view of the enormous areas 

 shown on the map as " fires," it is not surprising that the first 

 recommendation of the authors is that existing means intended 

 to combat this evil should be extended and perfected. Their 

 second recommendation is the appointment of a technically 



