46 



is, clearing, burning up the debris, and replanting, or else, if natural re- 

 generation is to be relied upon, adopting the strip system, when the oppor- 

 tunity ot burning the debris totally is still possible. 



The only hope here, in the absence of a paying home market for fuel 

 from the inferior material, is to establish chemical works for its conversion 

 on a large scale into charcoal, acetic acid, wood alcohol, and other useful 

 manufactures. 



In fact, the application of silviculture, i.e., the systematic production 

 of wood crops as a business proposition in our culled, mismanaged wood 

 lands throughout Canada is, in most cases, possible only where the means 

 exist of utilizing this inferior material ; for the risks from fire are too great, 

 or else the cash which would otherwise have to be spent in making room 

 for the young crop will surely exceed reasonable proportions. Only the 

 state or other long-lived corporations can afford to spend money now in the 

 hope of adequate returns in a distant future. 



Forest crop production as a business, silviculture, will become practi- 

 cable and profitable in this country only when reasonable forest protection 

 is assured by proper exercise of state functions. 



Until this is secured, lumbermen will continue to exploit the natural 

 forest without much regard to its fate after they have secured its present 

 valuable stores, for they cannot afford to assume the hazard of the fire dan- 

 ger. 



Before positive sflvicultural methods are applied by them, they may 

 find it advantageous to cut the virgin forest more conservatively ; they may 

 find that it pays in the long run better not to cull too closely, that it is ad- 

 vantageous to leave more of smaller sizes, i.e., to limit the diameter to 

 which they remove trees, so that they may return sooner for a second cut, 

 and also to avoid unnecessary damage to the young volunteer crop. At 

 present the limitation of size to be cut or to be left uncut is based upon cal- 

 culations of immediate profits to be derived, and does not take into account 

 any future considerations, since the lumberman does not cut with a regard 

 to the future, but attempts to secure the largest present gain. He views 

 the forest as a mere speculation. To curtail his present revenue for the 

 sake of a future revenue by abstaining from cutting all that is marketable 

 is the first step toward changing this point of view, introducing the idea of 

 continuity, and treating the forest as a permanent investment. 



It must be understood, however, that the limitation of the size of trees 

 to be cut or to be left uncut has not necessarily any bearing on the replace- 

 ment of the crop ; it is not silviculture. It is in the main a financial meas- 

 ure, it being demonstrable that it pays better to leave small sized trees to 

 accumulate more wood before utilizing them ; or else a device to prevent 

 over-cutting of a valuable species, so that it may not be eradicated too soon, 

 a wise measure whenever systematic attention to positive silviculture can- 

 not be given. 



