g CAKM>n\ FORBBTjff ASSOCIATION. 



FOREST COMMISSIONS. 



The Forestry and Colonization Commission of Quebec has submitted its report 

 to the government of that province. This report is full, clear, and is evidently the 

 result of a careful weighing and consideration of the evidence submitted by persons 

 interested in all sides of the question which came under the scope of the Commission. 

 Some of the conclusions of the Commission in general are : 



That there is no antagonism between the holders of timbei licenses and real 



,TS or those who honestly take up public lands with the view of clearing them 

 and not of speculating in the timber. 



That the number of speculators in government lots and in timber, already very 

 considerable, is constantly on the increase. These interlopers are the scourge of 

 colonization, a subject of continual trouble and, on occasion, of serious losses to the 

 license holders and the government. The extraordinarily increased value which all 

 woods have attained within four or five years, has caused this practice to spring up 

 in all parts of the province and the operations have assumed proportions which have 

 become almost a menace to the legitimately conducted lumber industry. 



The first measure necessary is the division of the public domain into settlement 

 lands and merchantable timber lands. There is a great deal of land unsuited for 

 profitable cultivation as much by the nature as by the conformation of the soil, but 

 very richly timbered. It would, therefore, be in the interest of the province to form 

 these lands into forest reserves. 



That the system of protection against forest fires is insufficient, and requires an 

 increase in the number and an improvement in the persorinel of the fire-ranging staff. 

 Further restrictions as to the time and methods of setting out of fires for clearing 

 land are recommended, and the necessity for educating the people to the need for care 

 in handling fires is urged. 



The Forestry Commission of Prince Edward Island presented its report at the 

 last session of the legislature. The commissioners state that as almost the whole of 

 the land in that province is held by private owners, it is evident that practical forestry 

 must in the main be dependent for its success on private effort. This private effort 

 should be directed and encouraged in every way possible, and it is in such direction 

 and encouragement, the commissioners consider, the government can best, and with 

 least expense, bring about the reforesting of such parts of the province as have been 

 unduly denuded, can assist in preserving the forests which still exist, and can inci- 

 dentally do much to beautify the appearance of the island. 



The commissioners recommend that experiments might be made in planting on 

 the white sand barrens, that the planting of trees on farms should be encouraged for 

 the protection they afford to orchards and crops, and for the supply of firewood and 

 timber, that planting should be done along the public roads, and that, through the 

 schools, education should be given in regard to the value and the care of trees. 



FOREST FIRKS. 



The resolution passed at the last annual meeting recommending the prohibition 

 of fires for clearing in the province of Quebec, except from June 15 to August 31, 

 was transmitted to the government of that province, and that urging protection to the 

 watersheds was sent to the different governments throughout the Dominion. 



^ The resolution relating to the prevention of fires along lines of railway, and es- 

 pecially m the construction of the new Transcontinental road, was transmitted to the 

 Dfovernment and to the representatives of the railway companies. Replies 

 received from the Department of Kailways and from the general manager of the 

 id Trunk Pacific Railway, stating that the question would be given careful con- 

 tion and steps taken in the direction indicated by the resolution. As this is a 

 the utmost importance and urgency, the association may very well reaffirm 

 Jts attitude thereon. 



