6 Canadian Forestry Journal. 



for timber limits, it may be pointed out that the large bonuses 

 tendered were justified on the part of the purchasers largely by 

 the immunity from fire ensured by the fire preventive service. 



Timber reserves have also been established in different parts 

 of the Dominion, partly with the object of protecting the game 

 animals and the watersheds, but also with the purpose of provid- 

 ing a permanent supply of timber. These reserves, so far as they 

 extend, and they now comprise an area of over eighteen million 

 acres, are a concrete exemplification of the principle that lands 

 which are unfitted for other purposes should be devoted to the 

 growth of timber. This is a principle of first importance, 

 for, as the forests require but little from the soil, they already 

 exist, and can be reproduced on lands so rocky or sandy that noth- 

 ing else of value can grow upon them. In every part of Canada, 

 and particularly along the great Laurentian ridge, and in the 

 mountainous districts, there are large areas bearing magnificent 

 forests, which, bared of such covering, have no other productivity 

 to take its place. The extent of such areas in Canada constitutes 

 an imperative demand that the forest should be continued and 

 reproduced. 



The necessity for tree growth on the western plains was early 

 recognized, and an effort to stimulate action in this direction 

 was made by the adoption of the Tree Culture Claim Act, under 

 which the holder of entry for a quarter section of land might earn 

 title thereto by planting forty acres with forest trees. Lack of 

 knowledge of the requisites of success resulted in almost total 

 failure of this plan of reforesting the plains. When the Experi- 

 mental Farms were established in the West in 1889, experiments 

 in tree growing were immediately begun, and have resulted in a 

 clearer understanding of the conditions of success and of the 

 species which give the most satisfactory results. With the in- 

 auguration of the Dominion Forestry Branch in 1899, a still fur- 

 ther impetus was given. A scheme for supplying the settlers 

 with trees, to be planted and cared for under expert advice, has 

 been worked out successfully, and gives promise of great future 

 development. 



This was the course of development the forestry policy of 

 Canada had followed when the Canadian Forestry Association 

 came into existence. Since that time the fire protective force 

 has been increased, and the methods of management improved 

 throughout the Dominion, and such a force has been established 

 in some places where previously no effort of the kind had been 

 made. The Forest Reserve? have been enlarged and the num- 

 ber increased. In Ontario a plan for assisting the farming popu- 

 lation to set out wood lots has been arranged through the medium 

 of the Agricultural College. While the Forestry Association can- 

 not assume ah the credit for these advances, it can at least claim 



