20 CANADIAN F OEESTEY ASSOCIATION . 



teachers In other than special forestry subjects, and the larger number of 

 courses in general science available at the University. The objections 

 raised have been the prejudice of the students in the older courses against 

 the new men an argument which in practice has almost universally 

 operated the other way and the usual absence in University centres of an 

 easily accessible forest for demonstration purposes. The University oi 

 New Brunswick is fortunate, at least, in having near at hand a forest of 

 considerable extent owned by the University and subject to whatever im- 

 provement in conditions the Forestry Faculty may bring about. 



4. The public schools may no doubt do much toward creating in the 

 minds of the young a proper attitude toward matters pertaining to for- 

 estry. Within a very short time, however, I have heard business men, 

 agriculturists, social and political reformers, promoters of public health, 

 advocates of military training and even religious teachers advocate instruc- 

 tion in the public schools as the one sure way to bring about better condi- 

 itons in the lines of activity in which they were especially interested. It 

 is certainly a splendid tribute to the power of the public school, but. in 

 view of the fact that there is in some quarters a feeling that the schools 

 fail to do well the things now being attempted, it would be very unwise to 

 urge that another subject of study be imposed upon the already over- 

 crowded curriculum. 



Without the introduction of a new subject, something may be accom- 

 plished through the medium of the present system of Nature Study lessons. 

 During the winter months, when other forms of nature study are not read- 

 ily available, the study of trees should furnish a most interesting topic. 

 Pupils should be able to distinguish the common trees and woods. They 

 should be able to find out regarding their methods of growth and means 

 of reproduction. 



Special attention should be paid to the asthetic value of the individual 

 tree and of groups of trees. The value of tree-planting as a means of 

 beautifying the home and rendering attractive the country roadsides should 

 be dwelt upon. Older pupils might be led to see the effect which the cut- 

 ting away of the forests has upon the drying up of the streams and upon the 

 washing away of the soil from exposed hillsides. Then, having developed 

 an appreciation of the beauty and utility ot the forest, the necessity for 

 precaution against fire as the great foe of the forest should be inculcated. 

 Methods of fire-fighting might to some extent be detailed. By h'aving the 

 children report the origin of fires in the district, an efficient corps of fire 

 guards might be called into requisition without expense or delay. It would, 

 I think, be worth while for the Forestry Branch or a committee of this 

 Association to prepare a small pamphlet, giving the leading elementary 

 facts which might be brought out in such lessons and distribute the same to 

 teachers in the country schools. To have the growing generation on the 

 side of forest protection and forest appreciation would be worth a consid- 

 erable effort. 



In conclusion, I am sure that we may fairly congratulate ourselves on 

 the satisfactory progress of this great national movement a progress 

 which in a brief space of time has given Canada a place among the coun- 

 tries possessing a well-defined forest policy, backed up by sound, intelligent 

 public opinion. 



