32 Forests and Trees 



through the stretches of burned pine forests in all four of 

 the mainland provinces east of Manitoba, it would seem 

 that surely here were barren hills and blackened stumps 

 enough to account for any array of figures, no matter how 

 stupendous. The western provinces, however, have had 

 their share of fires. Hear what the explorers say : 



"Ninety per cent of the Riding Mountain forest reserve 

 (total area 982,400 acres) has been burned over." J. R. Dick- 

 son, 1908. 



"The northern face of the Duck Mountains has formerly 

 supported much excellent forest, but most of this area has now 

 been burned over and is being overgrown with poplar." J. B. 

 Tyrrell, Geological Survey, 1887. 



"Seventy-five per cent of the Beaver Hills forest reserve, 

 and recommended inclusion (total area 108 square miles) has 

 been burned over." 



"Forest fires have repeatedly overrun the Prince Albert 

 forest reserve, and recommended addition, of 214 square miles." 



"In the Crowsnest Valley, Alberta, out of a total of 212 

 square miles originally timbered, 179 square miles or 84 per cent 

 have been burned over." 



"The resources of the eastern slope of the Rockies as repre- 

 sented by timber have been reduced 75 per cent by forest fires." 

 H. R. Macmillan, Forestry Branch Report, 1908. 



"Fires have passed extensively over the country between 

 Quesnel and Blackwater, destroying the scrub pine and Douglas 

 fir. It is evident that the destruction of the forest has led to the 

 desiccation of the soil." G. M. Dawson, Geological Survey, 

 1876-1877. 



The list might be extended indefinitely, each item 

 referring to a definite place, large in itself but small 



