Canada as a Field for Intelligent Forestry. 11 



fitably used, for that purpose than for the growth of agricultural 

 products. 



Our people too frequently fail to realize the elements of re- 

 production and growth that are constantly going on m the forest; 

 that though they do not require to sow, yet there is a proper time 

 to harvest a wood crop, and that a little care m the protection of 

 the youn? trees from destruction by stock or otherwise wil be 

 amply rewarded by the young trees which should take the place 

 of those that have reached maturity, and which the owner has- 

 removed There is another fact regarding trees m which they 

 differ from agricultural products, and it is this: no rotation of the 

 forest crop is necessary. The same varieties can be grown on the 

 same soil for an indefinite period. 



A considerable percentage of our forest land lying immedi- 

 atelv north of the present settled districts in Ontario and Quebec, 

 but not extending bevond the northern watershed of the ^t. Law- 

 rence is held under license bv lumbermen and capitalists. 1 hese 

 licensees have onlv the right to cut the timber of certain varieties 

 on their Hmits. In former vears the bush operations of the lum- 

 bermen were invariablv followed a year or two after by a forest 

 fire that not only burnt up the drv brush that he had left on the 

 ground, but also destroyed all the remaining standing timber, 

 Ind not only that, but more frequently , than otherwise the hre 

 did not confine itself to the area cut over, but spread to other parts 

 and often destroyed large adjoining areas of good timber, it is 

 gratifying to know that great improvement m this respect has 

 taken place within the past few years, and that the destruction 

 in those districts by forest fires has greatly decreased, owing to 

 the greater care exercised in the use of fire, and by a patrol system 

 which cannot be too highly commended. 



Another step in advance, however, is necessary, and that is 

 with reference to the proper harvesting of the timber crop so that 

 the same limit may continue through the increment of growth to 

 furnish a timber crop in perpetuity. Here is a great field for in- 

 telligent work. The time has now arrived when the timber on 

 those limits has reached such a value that no holder can afford 

 to disregard the extensive voung growth of pine not yet large 

 enough for saw logs with which every limit abounds, and which 

 if protected will more than repav a good rate of interest on any 

 care that may be necessary to protect it. There is a great oppor- 

 tunity here for the intelligent forester. Not on y is it necessarx 

 to protect the limit from tire; to cut only trees that have arrived 

 at a state of maturity, but also to remove the useless or interior 

 varieties in order that the more valuable may have room to grow 

 and that the area may be utilized to the best possible advantage^ 

 Let us now consider the conditions of that vast stretch ot 

 unoccupied forest countrv lying north of what has been referred 



