NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 141 



Apart from the wealth it is to our country there is the great value of 

 the trees in bringing the rains to the dry streams. Then from the aesthetic 

 standpoint, the beauties of the forests and the beauties of nature as we read 

 them ; all these and many other considerations which might be gone into 

 show clearly how necessary it is for us to begin now and in earnest the sub- 

 ject of Forestry, of which I hope this convention is the initiative. 



Our forest areas are gradually growing stronger and it would appear 

 we are not getting a proportionate increase in population or acreage under 

 cultivation. The value of the lumber we are getting from our forests is 

 increasing and has increased rapidly during the past few years. This is no 

 doubt due to increased demand and also largely to forest areas elsewhere 

 being rapidly depleted. Countries once our greatest competitors are today 

 among our best customers. We have in our forests a great heritage and 

 when we reflect on what nature unaided has done for us and how profligate 

 we have been of her bounty it becomes clear the time for prompt action is 

 now upon us. 



The subject which I wish to speak of particularly today is entitled : 

 "The prevention of Forest Fires." The circle of our forest area is rapidly 

 becoming smaller, and as I stated a few moments ago, any effort we can put 

 forth should be put forth now. The cause of forest fires, or the source from 

 which they arise, is chiefly attributable to the carelessness of hundreds of 

 sportsmen and cruisers, lumbermen and settlers in clearing land, beny 

 pickers, fires from locomotives and sometimes they are attributable to light- 

 ning. 



Those which aVe caused through human agency as well as by locomo- 

 tives we should be 'able to control. I do not think that we are very liable to 

 fires from lightning in our section of the country. It is generally accom- 

 panied by very heavy rain, and though we very frequently see deciduous 

 trees in the forests, which have been struck by lightning, yet we do not con- 

 sider there is half as much danger from that as they do in the west. 



To fio-ht a forest fire is indeed a task and those who have engaged in it 



B 



will tell you how little can be done. We have seen a large force of men 

 armed with everything with which to fight a fire, armed with buckets, shovels 

 and picks, with axe and pickaxe, and aided by horses and plows, unable to 

 check its progress. So long as there is any dry moss, leaves, undergrowth 

 or resinous foliage to burn or feed it, it will run, blaze, roar and burn until 



