42 ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



ing pedigree-cultures of the fruit-fly and evening-prim- 

 rose. We must study the actual products of evolution as 

 they have arisen in nature. 



''The main thing is to recognize (as many biologists 

 do at present) the need of concerted action, in order to 

 save certain small fragments of living nature. Without 

 this, we shall certainly lose the greater part of the mate- 

 rial upon which our sciences of ecology, geographical dis- 

 tribution, taxonomy, etc., are based." — F. B. Sumnek. 



SUBSTITUTES FOE WOOD 



'*A favorite argument of those opposing forest con- 

 servation for their own ends is that when our valuable 

 species are gone we will find substitutes, grown in a 

 shorter time, and that 'this will involve no necessary 

 impairment of public wealth.' Also, that steel, cement 

 and other products will take the place of wood. This 

 can be answered by saying that in spite of the increasing 

 use of substitutes, the per capita consumption of wood 

 goes right on increasing. The substitute is usually more 

 expensive and not so satisfactory. Engineers have been 

 trying for years to invent a satisfactory steel or cement 

 railway tie, but have not been successful. Steel ties lack 

 elasticity, are subject to damage by freezing and thaw- 

 ing, and are much harder on the rolling stock. Where 

 can we find substitutes for hickoiy for spokes, ash for 

 handles, and oak for ties and furniture"? Why wait until 

 these valuable species are exhausted? Let us rather 

 conserve while we may the remaining supplies at the 

 same time saving the industries dependent upon these 

 species for their raw material." — B. B. Millee. 



DOES IT PAY? 



"I know that in this section of Canada (British Colum- 

 bia) something more is required than is covered by the 

 arguments submitted above. In the first place we have 

 to show that it pays to have reserves. It has paid Switz- 

 erland, it has paid New Zealand, it has paid the United 

 States, to set aside parks ; the sums of money brought in- 

 to those countries by visitors to those regions, are greater 



