NOTES. 



The "Indian Forester" has for its leading article in a 

 recent issue an editorial on "Forestry in Canada" in which 

 the work of the Forestry Department and Forestry Association 

 is written of in terms of the highest praise. The tone of the 

 article may be judged from its opening paragraph: 



"Among the British Dependencies which are now paying 

 serious attention to the future adequate protection of their 

 forests, Canada may be said to take a foremost rank. For 

 many years the destruction of the vast forests existing in the 

 colony had been carried on unchecked and this reckless over- 

 cutting has within the last few years attracted the attention 

 of all thoughtful statesmen and others interested in the future 

 well-being of the Dominion. It became increasingly obvious 

 that if some steps were not taken to put a stop to the existing 

 state of affairs irreparable damage would result, both clima- 

 tically and financially, to the country. Opinions were also 

 freely stated in the home markets that it would be but a matter 

 of a few years for the supply of Canadian-grown timber to give 

 out, even in spite of the fact that 7 5% of the Dominion is under 

 forest. This being the state of affairs the forestry movement 

 will be welcomed alike by statesman, financier and merchant." 



The Minister of the Interior has introduced an important 

 Bill in the Commons which, if passed, will set aside some seventy 

 Forest and Game Reserves on Dominion Lands within the 

 Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and in the 

 Railway Belt in British Columbia. 



The lands proposed to be set aside are uoH-agricultural 

 but suited for a permanent production of timber. They are 

 situated at the sources of water supply so necessary in every 

 district but especially so in a country like our prairie provinces 

 where the precipitation is scant and where under the most 

 favorable conditions summer droughts are always feared. 



It is not the intention to prohibit the cutting of mature 

 timber on these reserves but rather to place these to their 

 highest use for the production of timber and with this object 

 in view a rational system of cutting will have to be enforced and 

 care taken that fire does not follow such cutting as has been the 

 general rule in the cut over lumber districts in the past. Pro- 

 specting and mining will be allowed under special regulations. 



Grazing will be permitted only to such an extent as not to 

 interfere with the growth of the young trees. 



