-which, it is 'alleged, did not occur when the country was covered with 

 forests. These appear to have been brought about by their removal, and 

 might in a great extent be alleviated by the restoration of woodlands to 

 a degree consistent with agricultural interests." To such an extent has 

 this forest destruction affected the rivers of the Northern States that a 

 Commission was recently appointed to examine and report to the State 

 Legislature of New York the real facts, and the conclusion arrived at 

 was that this destruction of the forests, if continued in a wholesale 

 manner, would affect not only "the climate and rainfall of the State, 

 but its most important commercial interests in the welfare of its canals ; 

 and not only the latter interests would be assailed, but even more largely 

 the railroads, river-towing, mills, ship and house building, carpentry 

 .generally, banking, and every other allied and connected business 

 throughout the State." With the experience before us, gained from this 

 investigation in a country bordering on our own, the lesson of precaution 

 is taught, and the waste that has so indiscriminately prevailed hitherto 

 in our forests should be stayed. New settlers, in their haste to get their 

 land under cultivation, girdle and burn vast tracts of forest, while they 

 could, with the greatest advantage to their crops and the general health 

 and beauty of the country, leave every field with a fine belt of timber, 

 surrounding it at least on three sides. So thoughtless are men in open- 

 ing up new land that many have not even the forethought to select the 

 knoll and save the forest where nature indicated should be the future 

 home. That very spot is cleared of its trees, and when the time for 

 building arrives a bare spot surrounds the house, on which a meagre 

 shade is sought for by planting trees, which require the growth of years 

 before any shade can be afforded. 



The products of the forest have long been a source of great wealth to 

 the several Provinces of the Dominion, and more especially to the older 

 Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and the 

 forests themselves offer us treasures such as few lands can rival and none 

 can exceed. Public attention has of late years been more alive than 

 formerly to their value, and to the necessity of economizing what yet 

 remains of these rich national resources, and of replacing what has been 

 so carelessly wasted a necessity every day making itself more mani- 

 fest. Wood as fuel is becoming scarce and dear near cities and towns, 

 and our best timber is becoming more and more costly every year, 

 whilst inferior timber now frequently takes the place and finds a ready 

 sale where once only the best was in demand. It was natural enough 

 that the first settlers in the forest should take summary measures to 

 clear the soil for cultivation, but to keep up a wild waste both with axe 

 and fire long after the soil is subdued will tend to hasten the time when 

 our drafts upon the forest must be dishonoured. Wood must be had to 

 use for various purposes, and the question of obtaining it enters largely 

 and constantly into all branches of industry and living, whilst the wants 

 of society, the general health of the people, the salubrity of our climate, 

 and the increase of our national wealth are each and all closely con- 

 nected with the growth or destruction of our forests. 



