THE CULTIVATION OF TREES AS AFFECTING THE FAKM. 441 



The area and value of the forest lands of Canada are still of great mag- 

 nitude ; indeed, of such magnitude that all the reliable information we 

 possess from the brief notes of surveys stands as evidence of our ignor- 

 ance of its variety, wealth, and extent, because any survey partakes so 

 much of the character of straight-line testing that whole blocks of hund- 

 reds of acres of many kinds of our best timber lie untouched and un- 

 known at least to Government. It is surely within the scope of a 

 -onable outlay, and not many years' work, that the country should 

 hold one map showing the principal tree crops on every surveyed lot, as 

 well as on every outlined township, district, and limit. While we know 

 intuitively that we are wealthier than we appear to be, it will give us no 

 better standing in the world's market to make a story about it without 

 actual inspection. Besides, when we talk scientifically, as we must do, in 

 >ect of forest influences upon many things ere practice goes afoot, it is 

 most material to be thoroughly familiar with the existing condition of our 

 forests as regards first, second, or any subsequent natural growths, and 

 Imw far they are likely to subserve the ends in view. 



The requisite proportion of tree surface to that under agriculture, is 

 another of the studies yet little understood by scientists, and cannot, so 

 to speak, be* handled practically with any precise measure of reason, until 

 further experiments point to safe data; but, from the extreme of over- 

 clearing on the one hand, to that of too much forest on the other, there is 

 safe ground for no delay on the part of any Government. Of course this 

 would bring up the allied point of what parts of the country should be 

 conserved and what parts replanted, subject to the regulation of appropri- 

 ate positions and adaptability of soil and climate in each particular 

 ample. 



It should be one of the particular duties of the Professor of Arhoricul- 



to educate in regard to the susceptibility of certain kinds an 

 of tr pecial purposeswhether for field clumps, shelter belts, road- 



side shad.-, neighbourhood of dwellings, or for more extensive plan: 

 in addition to the management of them in all their detail from tin- 



transplanting in the nursery, preparation of land for planting, their 



lal maintenanee, thinnings and their value, 6Hemi6B to an 1 diseases 



to the grazing of replanted land-, and the ultimate realization 

 th- matured crop. 



Thus -hould \ve he in a position to advice our Legislatures on the great 



>nal problem of 1 ial and L^'neral conversation and replant; 



hy which it would ! shown that Bnclodng; draining, regulation of tires, 



MS nf puhlle e\prlld;t HI 



