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proper attention to this matter, and I feel certain that if the 

 true causes were properly investigated where fish were said 

 to disappear from a stream, in half the cases it would be 

 found that the shade and shelter of the forests or protecting 

 border trees had been taken away. It was said at the read- 

 ing of Sir James Gibson Maitland's excellent paper on the 

 " Salmonidae," that it was not enough to place spawn and 

 fry in a water, they must be provided with proper food, 

 and the best means to do this is to preserve the border 

 trees and ensure a steady supply of water and food by pre- 

 serving the forests from whence the supply of water is 

 derived. But, as before remarked, it is not enough to 

 preserve the present forest. New forest must be culti- 

 vated on the barren ranges, and many a stream, now 

 nearly empty during dry seasons, will be re-filled and 

 soon teem with fish and food for the many. So far 

 for the principle of the conservation of the forest. I 

 will now briefly mention the most suitable trees and their 

 culture. But before entering upon this, I must draw 

 your attention to the important condition to be observed in 

 the management of such forest areas, as are preserved for 

 the sake of conservation of water. This condition is density. 

 In the dense shade of a well-closed forest are developed all 

 those atmospheric conditions on which depend the greatest 

 effects of the forest in regard to climate and water con- 

 servation. The so-called periodical thinning out in these 

 areas should be carried on with the greatest care, and might 

 with advantage be nearly dispensed with, if the economy of 

 the management would permit it. The result would be, 

 besides the effect upon the water conservation, that tall 

 straight trees would be reared, yielding timber most valu- 

 able for all practical purposes. Nature itself would do the 

 thinning out, and do it in a better way than we could hope 



