148 NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



michi district. These conditions, varying somewhat in different districts^ 

 according to soil, and climatic influences, are generally not favorable to the 

 rapid growth of lumber, mainly because of the too close proximity of neigh- 

 bouring trees, and thus the yield of good sized merchantable lumber from 

 such forest lands is low. Under proper cultivation and given average quality 

 land in respect to soil, etc., I believe that our native black spruce can be 

 grown of equal size to that referred to by Mr. Hutchiuson in a much less 

 period, say for 18x10 logs, 80 to 90 years, and for medium sized logs for 

 pulp manufacture, in from 40 to 45 years, and I base this belief on results 

 obtained elsewhere, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia. As you all 

 know in Germany the cultivation of trees has become a science. No one can; 

 pass through the Baltic provinces of that country without making that 

 observation for himself. He will there find the forests, if one might so use 

 the term towards comparatively small areas of woodland, regularly planted 

 and carefully tended. But the mode of culture in that part of the world 

 would not be suitable, or is not necessary for us here. We already own vast 

 tracts of forest lands which only require a fair amount of attention and the 

 application of a little common sens,e in their treatment to convert them in 

 course of time into very valuable assets of the State. The ordinary New" 

 Brunswick farmer who owns a wood lot of say 100 acres or more, if, instead 

 of devoting part of his time to outside pursuits, paid proper heed to his 

 forest trees, might in a short time become possessed of considerable wealth, 

 for it is quite possible to grow at least 100 cords of spruce pulp wood on one- 

 acre of such land within a generation, provided the weeds are kept under 

 and only the valuable timber allowed to grow. 



v O m 



In Germany under cultivation over 3,000 trees regularly spaced can be 

 grown per acre up to 25 years of age, the forest is then gradually thinned 

 the thinnings being suitable for pulp and paper making or other purposes 

 where small timber is needed. Usually 10 per cent, or 300 trees are left 

 standing for growth into large size, which growth covers a period of from 

 80 to 90 years. 



Perhaps I am the only one at this convention who has had experience 

 in Scandinavia as well as in our own province in the treatment of forests 

 and a description of the practice of forestry as carried out in that part of 

 Sweden where I had control of 40 square miles connected with a large pulp 

 factory, may be interesting and perhaps instructive. There was no attempt 

 at growing either from seed or young sapling, but each tree intended to be 

 cut, was carefully selected, measured and marked (by blazing). The marked 



