The Toronto 1909 Convention. 9 



This nucleus of permanent foresters should be directed by 

 active superiors in charge of this special service and in syinpathy 

 with the broader policies which are to follow the effective fire 

 protection." The paper then treated the area of timberland 

 of the Dominion of Canada and the present stand of timber, 

 and noted the uncertainty of the estimates in both of these 

 cases and the absolute need of a descriptive forest survey of 

 the timberlands. The reasons for the slow progress of the 

 propaganda on behalf of conservative forest, management were 

 stated, the last and most potent, in the author's judgment, 

 being "the momentum of existing methods of disposal of the 

 timber which benefit an influential class of citizens namely, 

 the timber limit holders, who will naturally battle for their 

 continuance, and the natural unwillingness of governments to 

 make radical changes." The paper concluded with the sugges- 

 tion of the appointment of permanent provincial legislative 

 committees composed of influential members of the Association 

 to study local conditions, formulate and secure a hearing for 

 propositions to the Government and push them to realization, 

 employ all local means for educating and arousing the public 

 and altogether be in charge of the work of the Association 

 between meetings." 



Dr. Fernow's paper gave rise to a discussion of some length. 

 The most important contribution was made by Hon. Frank 

 Cochrane, who said that the Association ought to criticize; he 

 welcomed criticism and would try to improve the administra- 

 tion of the forests accordingly. He gave credit to his pre- 

 decessors for starting the fire protective service, which was being 

 improved. Provincial patrol was better than, or at least as 

 good as, private patrol. He noted also the forward step the 

 province was taking in waste land planting. 



Others who took part in the discussion were Prof. McClement, 

 of Queen's University, who urged the importance of popular 

 instruction by means of addresses, illustrations, etc.; Mr. R. H. 

 Campbell, who spoke of the interest in forestry that was being 

 aroused by the Association, especially by the publication of 

 the Forestry Journal and of newspaper bulletins and occa- 

 sional lectures; Mr. J. M. Macoun, who discussed the Journal 

 and its policy; Mr. Geo. Y. Chown, who suggested the appoint- 

 ment of a paid secretary; Mr. E. Stewart, who emphasized the 

 educational aim of the Association, and Rev. Dr. A. E. Burke 

 who spoke as the representative of Prince Edward Island 



The last item on the morning's programme was the paper 

 by Mr. A. Knechtel, Inspector of Dominion Forest Reserves, 

 which is published in full elsewhere in this issue. 



