CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 129 



time already. (Go on.) But coining for a moment to our friend, Dr. 

 Fernow, I must say I didn't understand him this morning. That is, if I 

 understand him correctly, I don't know what he means. (Laughter.) You 

 won't laugh when I explain it. He said that the cutting of the large tim- 

 ber and preserving the small timber was not going to bring about the per- 

 petuity desired. He also said that reforestation was not going to bring it 

 about. But he did say that under the direction of a scientific forester we 

 could have the desired result. Now, that is the statement, and I would like 

 to know what he means. I myself firmly believe that in cutting none but 

 the old timber our forests can be perpetuated forever. And now let me 

 make a statement that may be considered a very radical one. The Pro- 

 vince of Ontario and the other Provinces are pursuing the policy of selling 

 a certain area now and again; letting that be exhausted, and then selling 

 another certain area a suicidal policy if there ever was one, although the 

 other Provinces are doing the same. (Applause.) What should be the 

 practice? The entire lumber area of Canada should be all worked over. 

 (Hear, hear) cutting over the old timber, and not allowing it to die. I 

 make a very bold statement : I believe there is more timber dying of old 

 age in Canada to-day than is being cut by the lumbermen (Applause) 

 simply by the limitation of the licensed areas. That may appeal to people who 

 don't know better, having the idea that they are conserving the forests, 

 hut it is the means of destroying the forests. Let the whole area, as fast 

 as practicable, be worked over, and cut only the old timber. Let me tell 

 you here that I own a large limit of pine timber, and when the time came 

 to cut it we could not cut any of it at all because it was all dead; simply 

 of old age. That is a condition that exists in the northern part of the 

 country, over a very great area of it. Now, as to the growth of timber, my 

 opinion upon that is just this that the growth varies according to con- 

 ditions. Close to the water, down at the sea and close to the rivers, timber 

 grows very rapidly; on the mountain peaks it grows very slowly. As to the 

 period required to produce a merchantable saw log of spruce or pine, I 

 don't know the time. I have myself supposed upon an average about 40 or 

 50 years would produce a spruce sufficiently old to cut, and 60 or 70 would 

 produce a pine under average conditions. Whether I am right or wrong 

 about that I don't know. In Doctor Fernow's address which I highly 

 approved of, and appreciate very much I want to correct him in one 

 statement wherein he said that in the efforts of the Government to bring 

 about improved conditions, in so far as forest preservation was concerned, the 

 lumberman might be an element in the way. He is an element above all 

 elements, who will join in the heartiest way to co-operate for the preservation 

 of the forests the very reverse of what the Doctor said. He simply does not 

 know the boys as he ought to know them. (Laughter.) I was very glad 

 indeed to hear the Hon. Mr. Cochrane say this morning that he invited 

 criticism. I think that was a very wise thing for him to say, a very proper 

 thing. I was very glad indeed to hear it, and I must congratulate him for 

 having done so, because that is the proper spirit on-the part of a Minister. He 

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