60 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



third table above, we find there red pine at the rate of 1.4 trees and white pine 

 at the rate of 1.2 trees per acre. In one case, 39.6 and in the other, 2.6 pine trees per 

 acre. Thus, if we regard those sample plots as representing average conditions in 

 the two cases, we see that repeated fires have reduced the commercial possibilities 

 of one area, in terms of pine, by 15, or, stated the other way about, protection from 

 fire for only 30 years has increased the commercial possibilities of one of the areas 

 by 15. 



In addition to the barrens, 17,600 acres in Methuen were classified as without 

 prospect of timber in commercial quantities unless planted. The whole of the area 

 has been burned three times, and portions of it five times, since lumbering operat ions of 

 about 30 years ago. The most severely bvu^ned portions are now thickets of poplar with 

 scattered birch and oak, and are without reproduction of coniferous species. A sandy 

 flat burned 16 years ago now has on the average acre, 20 poles and 174 saplings of 

 trembUng aspen ; 6 poles and 156 saplings of large-toothed aspen, and 66 saplings 

 of paper birch. The composition percentage of these species in the order enumerated 

 is 46.1, 38.3, and 15.6. On a rocky ridge burned ten years ago there were per 

 acre the following number of saphngs : large-toothed aspen, 580 (70.3 per cent) ; 

 trembhng aspen, 228 (27.6 per cent) ; red oak, 10 (1.2 per cent) ; white oak, 8 (0.9 

 per cent.) 



The major portion of the area has been burned three times and it contains scat- 

 tered reproduction of pine and other conifers. A strip 300 chains long was run 

 through this in a direction more or less parallel with the ridges and the coniferous 

 saplings and poles were counted. The average number of young conifers per acre 

 on the 30 acres thus examined was as follows : red pine, 2.5 ; white pine, 1.5 ; jack 

 pine, 1.4 ; tamarack, 0.3 ; hemlock, 0.1 ; balsam, 0.05 ; white spruce, 0.05. Another 

 strip, a chain wide, comprising 40 acres, was run so as to cross the ridges and depressions 

 and it was found to contain 292 young red pine and white pine. The 30-acre plot 

 contained 120 young trees of these species, so the average of the 70 acres was 5.8 

 trees per acre. At the same time the stumps of the trees removed from the area 

 were also counted. Those over a foot in diameter averaged 60 per acre. Therefore 

 where 60 commercial trees were removed only 5.8 potentially commercial remain 

 to take their place. The repeated fires have killed practically every seed tree, 

 so this reduction in value in terms of pine is essentially permanent. Thus the 

 lack of fire protection on these 17,600 acres, has resulted in a growth with a potential 

 value of only one-tenth of the original forest. 



In the northern portion of the township there are 7,500 acres that have been 

 burned but once since lumbering. The stand is composed of the usual poplar and 

 birch and the coniferous species are returning in commercial quantities. Balsam 

 and white spruce are abundant in the ravines and in the moister situations. Sample 

 plots reveal young pine at the rate of 25 trees per acre. Numerous seed trees remain 

 BO the area is all the time increasing its stock. In course of time, if not burned, 

 the area will reproduce its original stock of pine. 



Financial Losses by Forest Fires 



In reading the preceding pages one is impressed by the action of 

 repeated fires in retarding, and, in some cases, entirely destroying the 

 reproduction of pine. Since the soil is fit only for the growing of 

 trees and is especially adapted to pine, it is evident that any treatment 

 involving a reduced future production of pine on such areas will result 

 in considerable financial loss to the owner, in this case, the Crown. 

 An attempt is made in the following pages to reach an approximation 

 of these losses. For example, in the township of Cashel the first fire, 

 of 35 years ago, doubtless left numerous seed trees which gave rise to 

 the pine in the quantities indicated in the tables on pages 53 and 54. 

 The second fire apparently ran over about three-fourths of the second 

 growth resulting from the first fire, and killed most of the remaining 



