THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 149 



years ago anything but a flourishing account of the state oi 

 affairs. 



The Canadian forests contain a hirge number of species, of 

 which the following are the three most important : — 



(1) The White Pine {Pinus Strohns), found in the south- 

 east of the Dominion. 



(2) The Spruce {Picea alha and Pieea nigra), found over 

 extensive areas. 



(3) The Douglas Fir or Oregon Pine {Pseudotsiuja 

 Douglasii), found principally in Columbia and Vancouver 

 Island. 



Generally speaking, the bulk of the forests is found in the 

 eastern and western provinces, whereas large prairie tracts 

 are found in the centre of Canada. 



The white or Weymouth pine timber used to be the 

 principal item of export; the latter has fallen from 606,000 tons 

 in 1865, to 106,000 in 1893, a reduction of 82 per cent. 

 During the same period the price rose from ^\ a ton 

 to £2 16s. Measurements have also proved that the 

 average size of logs has fallen 30 per cent. Mr. Johnson 

 concludes that the first-class quality has nearly dis- 

 appeared, and that the total exhaustion is a matter of 

 only a few years. The causes which he gives are excessive 

 and wasteful cuttings and the fearful destruction by forest 

 fires. 



Of spruce, there are yet enormous quantities available ; it 

 is practically taking the place of white pine. What with 

 lumbering, the manufacture of wood pulp and forest fires, 

 spruce is likely to share the fate of the white pine as time 

 goes on. 



The Douglas fir appears in great abundance and grows to 

 a large size. It is cut by lumbermen for home use and export 

 to the United States and other countries, including the South 

 African mines. 



The Canadian forests contain many other species which 

 are of importance. Those of greatest use are enumerated 



