FORESTRY IN EASTERN CANADA. 

 By F. J. Pipal. 



In trying to settle the question of the future timber sup- 

 ply in the United States, we have often been consoled by the 

 supposition that our sister country, Canada, could spare some- 

 thing from its transatlantic trade with the mother country and 

 help avert a timber famine. What the timber supply of Canada 

 really is and to what extent the United States might be aided 

 from this source, cannot be easily estimated as most of her 

 forests are, as yet, unexplored. The total territory of Canada 

 covers an area of about 3,745,574 square miles, or 2,397,167,360 

 acres, of which approximately 1,700,000,000 acres are included 

 in forest area. The United States claims less than one-third 

 of this acreage. If, however, the quality of these forests is 

 considered, the odds are in favor of the United States. 



Canada lacks the variety of types and the valuable species 

 which are so abundant in certain parts of our forests. There 

 are now, according to Dr. B. E. Fernow, about 150 recognized 

 species and varieties in the Canadian forests. The conifers 

 prevail and are far more important than the broad-leaved trees. 

 They comprise about thirty-two species, namely ten Pines, 

 five Spruces, four Firs, three Hemlocks three Larches, two 

 Junipers, two White Cedars, one Yellow Cedar, one Yew, and 

 one Douglas Fir. The Pacific forests which are the best in 

 the Dominion include twenty important species of conifers and 

 only twenty-five minor species of the 118 broad-leaved trees, 

 thus giving the distinct characteristics of a coniferous forest. 

 The province of British Columbia, which is said to possess the 

 largest compact area of merchantable timber in North America, 

 comprises about 182 million acres of forests, which is several 

 million acres more than the total area of the National Forests 

 of the United States. Douglas Fir predominates in the southern 

 section but in the northern portion Yellow Cedar and Red Juni- 

 per, Hemlock, and Spruce are more common. 



In 1895, the statistician of the Department of Agriculture, 

 at Ottawa, summed up the conclusions in his report on the 

 "Forest Wealth of Canada", as follows: 



1. The first quality White Pine has nearly disappeared. 



2. Of second quality White Pine there is a considerable 

 supply. 



3. Of other timber woods there is a large supply. 



4. We are within measurable distance of the time when, 



