CANADIAN FOEE ST-RY ASSOCIATION. 29 



the information will be compiled and maps made on a smaller scale 

 for publication. Points usually ascertained were : ( I ) The compo- 

 sition or type of forests. (2) The degree of culling. (3) The ex- 

 tent of burned areas. (4) The condition of reproduction. ($) The 

 character of the barrens, the meadow lands, and the farm areas 

 within the timber country. 



"The forest land was divided into three classes: (i) Severely 

 culled. (2) Partially culled where only from one-third to one- 

 half of the timber had been removed. (3) Virgin. Reproduction of 

 conifers was noted as good, medium, and poor. 



"As regard the composition of the forest, three types were recog- 

 nized, namely: (i) Pure hard woods. (2) Pure conifers. 

 (3) Mixed hardwoods and conifers. A mixture of twenty-five per 

 cent, of either hardwoods or conifers was necessary to constitute the 

 last-named type. Provision was made for a further sub-division of 

 the areas into sub-types by recording the other species met with on 

 any tract in the order of the frequency of their occurrence. 



"The original idea of securing information regarding soil con- 

 ditions proved too troublesome to be carried out. In the timber 

 country (generally speaking) not ten per cent, of the area is fit for 

 farming. In some districts, however, meadow lands can undoubtedly 

 be extended by the reclamation of marshes, bogs, and swamps. 



"The Future of the Forest. To the forester the future of the 

 forest is of paramount importance, and so it is gratifying to note Dr. 

 Fernow's opinion on this point in a letter to the Western Nova 

 Scotia Lumbermen's Association. 'Although the data on reproduc- 

 tion and rate of growth are not yet collated,' he writes, 'it is safe to 

 say that if the fires are kept out (and apparently with the present 

 organization, further perfected, this may be done reasonably well) 

 there is no difficulty in restocking by natural means the cut-over areas 

 if not too severely culled. In the pure hemlock-spruce stands all that 

 is necessary is to remove the old hemlock thoroughly and cleanly to 

 have the young growth of spruce, already established on the ground, 

 take its place. 



1 'Reproduction of conifers is prolific where not prevented by re- 

 peated fires, especially on abandoned pastures. Unfortunately two 

 inferior species, namely, white spruce and balsam fir, take the lead. 

 In the open, white spruce beats red spruce, a slower growing tree. 

 In old timber the red spruce forms over ninety per cent, of the growth 

 and reproduces well, especially under hemlock. 



" 'The white pine is rare. In Shelburne County there is a large 

 area, burned over about ninety years ago, which is grown up almost 

 entirely with white pine, and has for some time been logged. The 

 timber, while merchantable, is not very desirable. 



" 'As to the rate at which young growth attains merchantable 

 size,' Dr. Fernow further observes, 'erroneous notions seem to be 



