18 NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



Let us take an illustration bearing on this general question. Suppose 

 the Hon. Surveyor General, who could perhaps with more propriety be 

 named the Minister of Crown Lands and Forestry, owned for himself in fee 

 simple all of this 6,400,000 acres of land with ample means to care for it, 

 what would he as an intelligent and provident gentleman do with it ? He 

 would not impair it for the purpose of getting great immediate profits, 

 which might be wasted, but so protect it, that it would remain for his children 

 and their descendants for all time a valuable and increasing source of 



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revenue. It demands a higher style of honor, to deal with a trust which in 

 the case of public lands, not only conserves the best interests of the charge 

 in hand, but also indirectly promotes in many ways the wealth and the hap- 

 piness of the community in general. 



It was only natural that our forefathers, the pioneers of the soil, when 

 the clearing off of the trees was a necessity, should impart to their children- 

 similar habits of destruction ; but the boys and girls of this epoch should 

 'leave school with feelings more in consonance with the country's require- 

 ments. 



In the higher educational institutions increasing attention is afforded 

 to nature studies, which will surely help in the cultivation of a greater inter- 

 est, by the young of both sexes, in forestry. The educational department is, 

 I am convinced, always desirous of promoting in all the schools a knowledge 

 of tree culture. Shade trees about the homestead and alon^r the roadsides, 



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apart from their intrinsic value, add much to the aesthetic appearance of 

 rural districts, and are appreciated by tourists and other visitors. 



In the order of creation, the characteristic of the grandest of all laws is 

 variety, and this Province in its topography, exemplifies this feature. The 

 mountains and streams, the forests and glades, all add to the wealth and 

 welfare of the people. Much is written about Canada's western heritage, 

 where people accustomed to a flat and treeless prairie, successfully grow 

 cereals for food, but here we have a heritage more enduring, affording to the 

 youth of their native land such an interesting diversity as is conducive to 

 high mental development and noble achievement. Other sections may have 

 greater special attraction but for the attainment of the largest average of 

 this life's happiness, there is probably no place superior to New Brunswick. 



Hon. Mr. McClelan was followed by Elihu Stewart, Esq., President of 

 the Canadian Forestry Association. 



