74 CANADIAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 



the prairies. The Dominion Forestry Branch had a. nursery station at 

 Indian Head, from which trees were sent out free to settlers. Last spring 

 two and a half million trees were sent out, and altogether about fifteen mil- 

 lion had been thus planted since this work was begun. The change in the 

 comfort and appearance of the homesteads on the prairies by the planting 

 of trees' about them had been most marked. 



DISCUSSION URGED. 



The Chairman said he hoped there would be the fullest discussion upon 

 all the subjects brought up. Let no one go away feeling that any matter 

 had not been properly discussed. Much was got by the interchange of 

 ideas. Canada had learned much from the United States in regard to 

 Conservation. Mr. Roosevelt, the President, first called a meeting of the 

 Governors of the various States, and it was decided to prepare an inventory 

 of the resurces of the Republic. He (Senator Edwards) went there to rep- 

 resent Canada, at the request of the Dominion Government, at the second 

 gathering. Then came the International Convention, attended by Hon. 

 Mr. Sifton and two other representatives of Canada. Out of that grew the 

 Canadian Commission of Conservation, of which Hon. Mr. Sifton. was the 

 Chairman. With Mr. Sifton at the head, there could be no doubt about 

 results. Mr. Sifton intended to make it his life work. His (Senator Ed- 

 wards') view was that Canada should ascertain just what resources she 

 had. The Province of New Brunswick, he thought, should find out what 

 timber it had, should make a map of the areas, showing its distribution and 

 should then regulate the cut accordingly. Quebec and Ontario should do 

 the same. First ascertain the stock, then plan to conserve it. 



FOREST PROTECTION. 

 W. C. J. HALL, SUPERINTENDENT, BUREAU OF FORESTRY, QUEBEC. 



The Forestry movement all over Canada has accomplished a great deal, 

 and amongst other things, has been the means of awakening our thinking 

 people to the importance of handling our forests with a view to perpetua- 

 tion thereof. Before long I trust that a majority of the whole population 

 will be seized with the idea and aid in its consummation. 



The deplorable results of excessive denudation of the forests have been 

 demonstrated to us frequently. . Actual eye-witnesses, as for instance, His 

 Excellency the Governor-General, have related to us the dire consequences 

 of such policy in Europe and Asia. With such examples to profit by, no 

 Government should permit excessive cutting on lands under its control. 



What is the situation in Canada? Briefly this, that except on the imme- 

 diate shores of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the precipitation is not suf- 

 ficient to keep things in a moist condition, and, as a result, we have in all 

 our Provinces, periods of great drought, causing forests, whether conif- 

 erous or decidous, to become highly inflammable. Great care is therefore 

 necessary. 



