THE CULTIVATION <>F TBBB9 AS AFFB T1XU THK FAl;M. 445 



a cropping investment ; this point of immediate shelter is, therefore, 

 within everybody's knowledge, and needs no scientific recognition, and 



ild not require any governmental spurring. But the greater field of 

 elimate, as an unknown one practically in this relation, is more a national 

 problem, and still very much a scientific en.juiry, and what it will have 

 to say in regard to the proportion of trees to farm crops no one can tell. 

 Of course, if we disregard everything but the direct profits from t ; 



crop upon land, then we shall likely override all other deductions, 



and } toss il.ly bring back the days of laziness and unhealth. Viewing trees 



in all their relations, I am of opinion that upon an average of conditions 



in ( Mitario one-fourth of the land should be under trees, and as tin 



one-half what we have at present, there rests the apparent inconeist- 



\ of wanting to conserve and replant, all the while that we have 

 duiible what is needed. This brings out the fact that it is the irn 



of tree surface in our case which gives trouble, that some 

 parts have more than required, and others have been over-cleared. So then 



THE EXISTING CONDITION OF OUR FORESTS. 



is the very tir>t consideration in this enquiiy. What is the condition of 

 all our woodlands, both in the older and newer townships at the present 

 :nem, and what should be done with them in order to their best main- 

 tenance such a maintenance as shall secure annual revenue, shelter, and 

 climatic amelioration along with the due agricultural development ? 



Outside of the lumbering interest there is no enclosing, preserving, care- 

 taking, or conserving in any sense, except the right of individual own* r- 

 >hip. some of whom do act the forester, but nationally there is nothing 



and hence waste. The average bush of North America 



:'itiful sight, and yet a sad one. The artist must revel in its variety 



form, and foliage, but the fighting for place, the scraggy monarch of 



thivr hundred \ a is, smothering even as he dies, scores of plants that but 



him would attain to value ; the general want of light and air, and 



ise a decay and loss, recognised only by those who are scientifically 



i practically for- I do not mean that our forestall) e\, TV case 



-ild l>e managed similarly to tho><- in Km most of our best 



tin v.-ry ditleivm i-ondit ion>. but >imilar principles ought to 



in- maiiair'-ment. While then, we ove a stead to progressive 



judieioiis n-planting, it is above all others our first duty to manage well 

 what we do pOSSe . It will ln cheapest, the most rapid, and tin-most 

 6 method of :. --adjusting matter, fclong, no doubt, with a certain re- 

 > d land. No fear in d to 



