76 CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 



were rejected on the pretext that they were not of the very first quality. Who 

 shall say how many million feet of pine and spruce have been wasted in this manner? 



Forest exploitation has thus far neglected the future of the forest ; one section 

 has been completely cleared, then another has been taken. There was never any 

 care as to future cuttings. Thus, when the best of our pines were removed, not 

 a single seed tree was left standing to ensure the reproduction of the species. As 

 _a result, the forest has transformed itself, in many places, into a spruce forest. 

 Since the spruce has come into demand the same methods have been pursued, 

 and now we see this valuable species being replaced by fir and hard woods. 



It is our duty to remedy the faults of the past. Fires and the old methods of 

 exploitation have been the principal causes of the impoverishment of our forests. 

 Let us then protect our forest areas efficiently against fire, and seek especially to 

 remove the causes which have caused and increased the destructive action of these 

 fires. Let us see to it that the debris of the cutting is reduced to a minimum, and 

 then let us seek to remove this with the shortest delay possible, either by burning 

 it or by lopping off the tops of the felled trees. Let us improve our methods of 

 exploitation by making the utilization of the trees as complete as possible, and by 

 making plans of operation which shall be suitable for our trees and the soils where 

 they grow. Only thus can we assure the renewal of our forests. 



It follows, from what has been said, that it would be advantageous for the 

 lumbermen to organize competent ranging staffs, directed by technically trained 

 men. 



TRAINED FORESTERS NECESSARY. 



Forest engineers are necessary to make sylvicultural studies of our trees. 

 These are the men who are capable of preparing working plans appropriate to 

 our conditions, thereby enhancing the productive capacity of our forests and assur- 

 ing its perpetuity. Thanks to these technically trained men, old Europe has 

 witnessed the rebirth and improvement of her old forests. It is not to be doubted 

 that these engineers have a task worthy of their powers on this side of the Atlantic, 

 and that under their hands our forest wealth may yet become really inexhaustible 



Already several American lumbering firms have retained the services of 

 foresters, notably the powerful Weyerhauser organization. There is therefore 

 reason to hope that our Canadian firms may do the same. Very near 

 to us the Berlin Mills Co., of New Hampshire, has for several years 

 entrusted its cutting to foresters, and has been well satisfied with the 

 result. Mr. Austin Carey, who has had charge of the logging operations of this 

 firm for six years, is about to publish an interesting pamphlet relating to the 

 work which he has done during this time. As this gentleman's activities were not 

 very far from us and as the diverse conditions which he had to deal with were 

 practically the same as here, I should advise foresters who may becalled to manage 

 the spruce forests in this Prvoince, to study well the methods of Mr. Gary, and to 

 endeavour to apply them as much as possible. 



UNLICENSED LANDS. 



It remains for me to speak of the forests of the third group. I shall be brief 

 because none of these lands have been exploited. A certain portion of them has 

 already been set aside and placed in the Forest Reserves of this Province. 



So far we have very insufficient information as to the value of these forests. 



