REGENERATION OF PULPWOOD LANDS 11 



Wilson finds that, on the average, 44 per cent has butt rot. In 

 certain conditions, we found as many dead trees as living. One 

 rarely sees a balsam tree 14-in. in diameter and the great majority 

 never get beyond 9-in. before death overtakes them. Such small 

 trees scattered through a mixed stand may raise the logging cost to 

 a prohibitive point. 



MEASURES FOR REFORESTATION HARDWOODS us. SOFTWOODS 



We come now to a consideration of what is to be done with 

 these cut-over pulpwood lands. They belong to a provincial 

 government and are leased by private corporations, chiefly by com- 

 panies manufacturing paper pulp. They should, therefore, be con- 

 sidered from the standpoint of both these interests. 



The First, let us look at the matter from the standpoint 



Individual's of the private company. So far as another crop of 



spruce on these lands is concerned, the case is hope- 

 less. No private concern could afford to wait 50 years, paying 

 annual rental for that length of time for the sake of a few cords of 

 pulpwood, probably less than three, per acre. The amount of 

 balsam obtainable in the near future is problematical until we 

 have had an investigation of the rate at which the everywhere 

 prevalent heart rot is progressing. 



If the hardwoods could be utilized without too 

 Har^wcwDds 6 much destruction of the young spruce, the problem 



might solve itself. At present, the market for them 

 is so far distant and the difficulty of transportation is so great that 

 they are apparently valueless. However, some investigations of 

 possibly great significance are about to be instituted by the forester 

 to the Lauren tide Company. Trials are to be made of the applica- 

 bility of paper birch for pulpwood. There are enormous quantities 

 of this in Quebec, impeding the growth of the spruce and balsam by its 

 shade. It may be possible' to establish a rotation between the soft- 

 woods and hardwoods and so keep the land continuously productive. 



The possibility of the use of yellow birch for railway 

 ties is to be investigated. There is no doubt of the 

 market for this purpose. The question is whether 

 they can be profitably handled at present prices. If it proves 

 profitable, the over-topping birch would be removed and a much 

 larger portion of the 700 young spruce trees to the acre might develop 

 into pulpwood. 



If these possibilities become actualities, then the private con- 

 cerns will not be compelled to surrender their leases. 



