16 NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



demand for wood goods ; and even Germany, so famous for its conservative 

 forest management and thrift (to use the words of Fernow), an exporter till 

 1863, now pays over $70,000,000 for wood in excess of exports. These 

 three leading nations, with all the last half century has developed, in new 

 discoveries and scientific progress, and notwithstanding the substitution of 

 iron, stone, brick, etc., for structural purposes and coal for fuel, are making 

 yearly demands for more wood in one form or another. Pulp for paper is 

 everywhere making enormous inroads on the forests, and especially the 

 Spruce, the wood chiefly employed in the manufacture of paper. 



Our neighbors of the United States, with large forest resources and a 

 remarkably progressive development, fail, even with a protective policy, to 

 keep our w r ood products out of their market. 



There seems little need to show more conclusively the continuance of a 

 demand for export, or the value of the trees as a permanent asset. How 

 best to promote the growth and preservation of the trees is the question we 

 have met to consider, and the action of the Government in asking for an 



' O 



exchange of ideas from those having different points of view, is well directed 

 and cannot fail to be of considerable advantage. Looking to the future, 

 which is considered a statesman's duty, re-forestation becomes a matter of 

 paramount consideration. 



Norway and Sweden, our chief competitors in the English market, have 

 for a century had strict laws protecting the forest, but only comparatively 

 at a recent period have given attention to planting. From a report of a 

 commission sent out by a University in 1894 Sweden will by protection and 

 reforestation continue, if not increase, the present yearly cut, Of the Spruce, 

 Pine and Oak, the chief productions, the Spruce is said to be gaining over 

 the Pine. It maybe of some interest to note that Japan has had a forest 

 policy earlier than any European nation, and has now excellent arrangements 

 for effective procedure. From the earliest period edicts were issued to 

 provide for and ensure the planting of water sheds to reduce dangerous 

 floods. A forest academy, after German models and supervised by German 

 foresters, was established in 1882, which in 1890 became incorporated with 

 the University of Tokio. .The State forests comprise 17,500,000 acres, or 



about 30 per cent, of the total forest area. 







To the student of Forestry, however, no nation offers greater interest 

 than Germany, where, for a lengthened period, the Government has struggled 

 to maintain, by planting and re-seeding, a large area of productive fores 



