NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 205 



There is another phase of this subject which may seem frivolous and far 

 away to practical men, but which is of great importance nevertheless. 



In the samples of the primeval atmosphere of the world, which we find 

 locked up and preserved for us in the cavities of our oldest rocks, we find 

 nitrogen, hydrogen, carbonic acid gas and some others, but no oxygen. The 

 world therefore began with no free oxygen, but with plenty of carbonic acid 

 gas. The only agent known in nature which can free oxygen from the grasp 

 of carbon is green matter in plants under the action of the sunlight. The 

 oxygen of our atmosphere is therefore a gift to the animal world from the 

 plant world. 



Lord Kelvin, in an address before the British Association for the ad- 

 vancement of science, said that taking the amount of coal in the known coal 

 areas of the world, there is found to be not enough free oxygen in the world 

 to burn the coal. We are therefore in greater danger of an oxygen famine 

 th'an of a coal famine. 



By the respiration of men and animals and the furnaces of our factories, 

 we are using up the free, oxygen to an ever increasing rate. It is important, 

 therefore, that as the forest is the onjy strong growth, which can be produced 

 in some rocky areas, that these areas should not be : allowed to lose their 

 forest growth and then in consequence their soil. Vigorous vegetation in 

 every possible place is needed, not only to supply food and timber to the 

 world but also oxygen, and only increased vigor' of plant growth can we keep 

 the balance in face of the increased use of oxygen. 



If this can add anything to the discussion you may use it, though I 

 have not written it with that in view. 



I am very sorry I cannot be with you in what must prove a very inter- 

 esting gathering. 



Yours very truJy, 



(Signed) W. W. ANDREWS, 



McClelan School of Applied Science, 

 Mount Allison University. 



