OPINIONS OF TOWNSHIP CLERKS AND REEVES 125 



North Burgess Township, Lanark County 

 The average agricultural land in North Burgess township from the 

 Rideau lake to the concession viii, would average about 15 per cent. 

 Along the Rideau it would average much less as there is over 3,000 

 acres not settled on and only used as pasture land. Very large timber 

 used to grow in this township, especially between Black lake and the 

 Rideau. The fire in 1870 destroyed all growth of timber. I believe 

 the land along the Rideau would be very suitable for establishing 

 forest reserves. 



Drummond Township, Lanark County 

 Your letter re the establishing of pemianent forest reserves on non- 

 agricultural lands received, and in reply would say, that the non-agricul- 

 tural lands in this district are principally marsh lands, that have been 

 cleared either for farming purposes, or by bush fires, and are now pro- 

 ducing nothing but weeds or scrub. Some of this land produced heavy 

 timber, pine or tamarack. I might say that there is not any great 

 amount of such lands, a few hundred acres in each place and not more 

 than three or four places in the immediate district. 



I am satisfied that, if these lands were reforested, they wotdd not 

 only be revenue-producing but be a benefit to the surrounding country. 



North Elmsley Township, Lanark County 

 In reply to your letter re the establishing of permanent forest 

 reserves on non-agricultural lands in this section, I would say that 

 there are several hundred acres of land in this township which have 

 been partially drowned by the Tay canal and Rideau canal. On this 

 land there were elm and ash swamps, which are now cut down and 

 there is nothing growing in their place. Part of this, I suppose, is too 

 low for any timber, while, on a large part, I should think that poplar 

 might grow if once started, but through this section poplar is only 

 growing on swamps that have been burned over, and these I mention 

 are too wet to have any bush burned on them, although they are 

 mostly clay bottom and deep soil. Any of the high land is good for 

 grass, and I think that the owners would not care to have them planted 

 with forest. 



Lavant Township, Lanark County 

 Re your enquiry of Jan. 30th (file 33532) regarding non-agricultural 

 lands in Lavant Township, I may say in reply that the assessment 

 roll of 191 1 gives the following — acres of woodland, 36,644 ; acres of 

 slash, 1,467. The above figures will, I think, be a fair estimate of the 

 non-agricultural land in this township. 



Regarding my opinion as to establishing permanent forest reserves 

 in this township, I may say that the bulk of this land has been burned 

 over a number of times and I am safe in saying that as much of the 

 original forest has been destroyed by fire as has been marketed. A por- 

 tion of the east comer of the township lying furthest from the railway 

 has, so far, escaped fire. I estimate it at about 3,000 acres, and it is 

 fairly well timbered \vith original forest. The balance, where fire has 

 passed over, is principally covered with a second growth of poplar, 

 white birch and some white pine, but is swept by fire before it becomes 



