1644 



Canadian Forestry Journal, April, 1918 



reforestation of a large portion of 

 the Highlands, combined with a 

 system of small holdings, is the 

 only possible outlook for an increase 

 of population. On such lands on 

 the continent of Europe the forests 

 are preserved and as a consequence 

 the population is large and fairly 

 prosperous. With the forest in 

 existence three or four times as 

 many people can be supported. 



The Division in Europe 



To show how the matter works 

 out in Europe the following com- 

 parison of population and percentage 

 of area in forest will be of interest: — 

 Population Percent, 

 per of land 



square mile in forest 



Belgium 652 18.3 



Germany 310.4 25.9 



Austria 247 32.5 



Switzerland 234.8 22.7 



France 189.5 18.7 



Russia (in Europe).. 64. 6 31. 



Sweden 32.4 47.8 



The area so far set apart per- 

 manently for forest purposes in the 

 prairie provinces works out at the 

 following percentages: — 



Population Percent. 



per of land in 



square mile forest 



reserves 



Manitoba 1. 81 2. 1 



Saskatchewan 1. 96 5. 



Alberta 1.47 13. 5 



It should be noted also that in 

 spite of the considerable percentage 

 in forest in Belgium, Germany, 

 Switzerland and France, the import 

 of timber is heavy even after de- 

 ducting the quantity .exported. 



In Belgium the excess of imports 

 over exports is more than the timber 

 produced in the country annually. 



Wood Crops 



The question to be determined 

 then is the best and most valuable 

 product that can be got from any 

 particular tract of land and devote 

 it to that purpose. If wood is 

 the most valuable crop and the 

 most required it should be grown. 

 If, on the other hand, the best 

 results can be obtained from devoting 

 the land to agriculture or to grazing 

 that should be done. The deter- 

 mination of the best use of the 

 land should not be left to chance. 

 The experience of Europe, of the 

 United States and of eastern Canada 

 is a sufficient guide, for a general 

 decision and the necessary examina- 

 tion to determine the question should 

 be made without delay. In such 

 an examination expert agricultural 

 knowledge should co-operate with 

 expert f( restry knowledge so as to 

 assure a determination as near as 

 possible to the fmal and permanent 

 one. 



The Campaign With School Children 



From a principal of a Kingston, 

 Ont. school: "The pupils all appeared 

 to enjoy your printed "Talk on 

 Forestry" and when questioned, ex- 

 pressed a desire that they might 

 receive more of a similar kind. 

 These talks supply useful information 

 and material for other "talks" by 

 the teachers. You are to be com- 

 mended for the work you have 

 undertaken in this connection." 



From a New Brunswick school 

 principal: "Your stories for class- 

 room use are exceptionally useful. 

 I should like to be put on the mailing 

 list permanently. These forestry 

 talks are looked for in my school. 

 I also think that a loose leaf book 

 could be made cf them and kept 

 in the school library for future 

 use and reference." 



