Canada as a Field for Intelligent Forestry. 13 



not produce it, but simply appropriates what nature unaided has 

 taken perhaps a century or more to produce. 



Forestry for several reasons is a subject that belongs pecu- 

 liarly to the State. One reason why this is the case 

 is the far-reaching effects which the forests have on the character 

 of the country in modifying its climate, and in regulating its 

 water supply, both of which affect the community at large. An- 

 other reason is owing to the length of time required for trees to 

 attain maturity. A long period of from fifty to one hundred 

 years or more is required for our forests to attain their greatest 

 commercial value, so there is no inducement to the individual 

 looking to his own immediate interest to engage in the raising of 

 a timber crop when he knows that his earthly career will have 

 closed long before the return for his labour can be realized : where- 

 as the life of a nation is not measured by years onlv but by cen- 

 turies. 



We have in that great region, which is well described as our 

 subarctic forest belt, as I have stated, a vast tract largely unfit 

 for agriculture. Within it are many great lakes and rivers which 

 owing to the cool temperature of the water contain fish of the best 

 quality. The land is covered with timber, a large part of which 

 it must be admitted, is of less commercial value than that grow- 

 ing farther to the south, but which is already attracting attention 

 for the manufacture of pulp. The most widely distributed tree 

 of that region is the spruce, white and black, which is par excel- 

 lence the tree for that purpose. This region too is the home of 

 a great variety of the most valuable fur-bearing animals, and it 

 is scarcely necessary to say that their existence depends very 

 largely on the preservation of the forest which is their home. We 

 have also in these wilds, owing to the numerous rivers and streams 

 with which the region abounds, and the rough and broken state 

 of the country, rapids and waterfalls inmimerable which will fur- 

 nish sufficient power for all purposes and at little expense. Of 

 its mineral wealth it is too early to speak yet, but there is little 

 doubt that the explorer will find rich rewards for his enterprise 

 in this virgin field. The larger lakes and rivers afford means of 

 communication throughout almost every part of this great dis- 

 trict. 



When all these conditions are duly considered, surely we have 

 a region of country worthy of careful investigation. A moment's 

 reflection will reveal v/hat an important part the forest exerts 

 over its welfare. Permit the destruction of this forest covering 

 by fire or otherwise, and what will be the result? To say nothing 

 yjl the evil effects on the climate of the fertile lands farther south 

 that would result from the destruction of this barrier against the 

 northern air currents, the severe winter of those high northern 

 latitudes will be made almost intolerable by the winds that will 



