CANADA AND HER FORESTS 177 



Forest fires, as in the United States, are the greatest enemies of 

 the forests of Canada. A protective organization has been developed 

 through ranger districts, using lookout stations, patrols and airplanes. 

 A compulsory patrol by railway lines is required along their rights of 

 way. Ninety per cent, of Canada's forest fires are caused by human 

 agencies, one of the chief factors being the settler who burns to make 

 way for his farm. 



Reforestation is gaining rapidly in Canada. From the nursery at 

 Indian Head, Saskatchewan, 70,000,000 seedlings have been planted 

 as shelterbreaks since 1901. The first forest nursery in eastern Canada 

 was established at the Ontario Agricultural College in 1904 and later 

 transferred to southern Norfolk County. It now comprises 500 

 acres growing more than 15,000,000 young trees. Ontario has 

 established the beginnings of 18 communal forests varying from a few 

 to 1000 acres, and is bringing about the production of 20,000,000 

 seedlings preparatory to planting 10,000 acres a year for 60 years 

 in old Ontario. Berthierville in Quebec a large nursery is dedicated 

 to the work of reforesting as much of the 3,000,000 waste acres in 

 that province as is possible. 



Private activity in reforestation is marked by several outstanding 

 instances. Recognizing the need of a continued supply of raw 

 material, one large paper company in Quebec has a nursery of 50 

 acres with 22,000,000 seedlings and has planted 2500 acres. Another 

 company has restored the growth on 1500 acres and there are other 

 instances of such private activity. 



Forestry education along technical lines is provided at the Univer- 

 sity of Toronto, the University of Laval and the University of New 

 Brunswick. The Canadian Society of Forest Engineers is the active 

 Association in the strictly technical field, while the Canadian Forestry 

 Association, including professional foresters and laymen leads in the 

 important work of public education to the forest problem. This 

 problem rests broadly upon arousing the public to fire prevention, in 

 creating conditions of better utilization, in meeting the annual loss 

 through insect and disease and in furthering the work of both nature 

 and man in the recreation of the forest resources. 



