Canadian Forestry Journal, July, 1919 



31 r 



information of a similar nature should be avail- 

 able for the rest of the Dommion. 



Saskatchewan Report Soon. 



The Commission of Conservation has com- 

 pleted a survey of the forest resources of Sas- 

 katchewan but, owing to the illness of the for- 

 ester who conducted the investigation, the com- 

 pletion of the report has been much delayed. 

 It is hoped, however, that it will be in the hands 

 of the printer at an early date. In 1909-10, a 

 similar survey of the forests of Nova Scotia was 

 made by the government of the province. When 

 completed, the report was published by the Com- 

 mission of Conservation. 



Much data respecting the forests of Alberta 

 and Manitoba have been obtained by the For- 

 estry Branch, Department of the Interior, and 

 when supplemented by some further investiga- 

 tions, will be available for publication. The 

 forests of New Brunswick are now being sur- 

 veyed by the government of that province. On- 

 tario and Quebec, therefore, are the only pro- 

 vinces in which a very large amount of in- 

 vestigatory work is required and, if the survey 

 of Quebec's forests is undertaken by the Quebec 

 Government, we may look forward with con- 

 fidence to the completion, at a comparatively 

 early date, of the survey of the forest resources 

 of Canada. Then and then only, will we be 

 able to formulate with confidence specific meas- 

 ures for the areas of Canada that contain forests 

 and for the areas that are suitable only for the 

 growth of forests. Unfortunately, when com- 



pleted, this survey will demonstrate that the 

 optimistic statements respecting our "illimitable" 

 and "inexhaustible" forest resources have no 

 foundation in fact. 



Canada Needs Production. 



Forests are primarily valuable for the pro- 

 duction of wood. At the present time, Canada 

 needs increased production as never before, but 

 the fact must not be overlooked that we shall 

 require sustained production for several genera- 

 tions in order to meet the obligations which the 

 war has imposed on us. That our forests may 

 be used to the best advantage, it is necessary 

 that we first know what stock we have on hand; 

 second, what future crops can be looked for; 

 and third, what means can best be adapted to 

 sustain and increase production. This know- 

 ledge is perhaps more valuable to those engaged 

 in the forest industries than to the governments 

 since a knowledge of the available supplies will 

 enable them to so plan their operations that 

 their plants may be kept running. The increas- 

 ing shortage of supplies is becoming a serious 

 matter, especially for the pulp industry and the 

 problem of reproduction either naturally or by 

 planting, has become a live issue. The Com- 

 mission of Conservation is conducting an ex- 

 tensive investigation of this subject and with a 

 knowledge of the virgin supplies, basic informa- 

 tion will be available as to the practical pos- 

 sibility or advisability of adopting means of 

 maintaining the productivity of their timber- 

 lands. 



WOMEN MAKE GOOD AS LUMBERJACKS 



(Mr. Geo. Leven, at Meeting of Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society) 



"At the present moment I could specify one 

 estate in the south-east of Scotland where wo- 

 men have undertaken very important work dur- 

 ing this past season. They have not only been 

 useful in planting operations and in felling and 

 cleaning pit-wood, but they have tackled trees 

 of a cubic capacity of 230 feet and felled them 

 to the satisfaction of merchants and others. 

 That is a very big undertaking and there are 

 many people who would scarcely believe it, but 

 it is absolutely the case, and I believe if we 

 could devote more attention than we have done 



in the past to better tools, better equipment, 

 and perhaps a little better accommodation than 

 some of them have had, that we would be able 

 to make use of a very great number of women. 

 I do not think it is altogether fair that we should 

 treat them as beasts of burden. We should 

 make some provision for training them, because 

 I am absolutely convinced they can do a great 

 amount of the work that falls to men in for- 

 estry. The women I have referred to have been 

 ahic to do almost all the work with the ex- 

 ception of "laying in" these very large trees." 



