Forestry on Dominion Lands 39 



In the early history of Canada the pioneer was very much in 

 evidence, but when the people settled down to sedentary oc- 

 cupations the spirit of adventure seemed to die out so that 

 to-day we know no more, perhaps less, of our unoccupied wilder- 

 ness than did the voyageur of two hundred years ago. 



Exploration in advance of settlement is a necessity. With 

 the knowledge that this would furnish us we would be able 

 to assign such districts to agriculture as would be best suited 

 for that purpose and to leave in forest land not adapted for 

 agriculture, but suited for the growth of timber. 



Canada is practically the only country in the northern 

 hemisphere to which the eyes of the world are turned for a timber 

 supplv in the time of great scarcity which is fast overtaking us. 

 Let us at once take means to preserve what we have for this 

 contingencv. Let us remember not only our present supply, 

 but that we are dealing with that kingdom of nature where the 

 life forces are at work and where reproduction and growth may 

 indefinitely prolong the supply if nature is not prejudicially 

 interfered with. 



The attention that has hitherto been given to the forest 

 in this country has been in cutting it down, either for the value 

 of the timber or to get rid of it, in order that the land might be 

 more profitably emploved for agriculture ; but the day has now 

 arrived when we should cease to regard our productive forests 

 as mines from which only a fixed amount of wealth can be obtain- 

 ed and then abandoned. We should recognize the fact ot 

 continuous growth and reproduction of the same varieties, 

 crop succeeding crop for indefinite periods of time. To be sure, 

 it takes about one hundred years for the growth of a mature 

 timber crop, but it requires no labour on our part and it asks only 

 that we allow nature, without interruption, to do its part and 

 generally too on land useless for other purposes. 



Owing to the long period required for the production of a 

 mature timber crop the individual cannot be expected to take 

 the same interest in it that he does in agricultural crops that 

 mature in one year, and for this reason forestry belongs more 

 to the state whose life is not measured by years, but by centuries. 

 There is another reason why forestry in this country belongs 

 more exclusively to the state than in perhaps any other country 

 in the world, and it is owing to the fact that most of the land 

 on which our vakiable timber grows is still held by the Crown; 

 and considering that the nation is the owner it is most appropriate 

 that this meeting is called in order that the Government may 

 have the views of those competent to give advice on a matter 

 that they are called to administer. 



Most of the countries of Europe make the administration 

 of their forests one of their most important departments of 



