CANADIAN F OEE S T BY ASSOCIATION. g3 



expenditure of this fund, so that he may prepare for emergencies, enforce 

 the law, and call upon a reserve to meet an extraordinary season. Com- 

 parative statements of reduced fire loss per acre have recently been pub- 

 lished by State Forester Pettis in the last New York Forestry Report, show- 

 ing an improvement in New York and less damage sustained than in other 

 States, and proving that large expenditure yields large returns. 



Such a complete system should be generously supported in every State 

 by all interests until such time as the land is evenly clothed in green with 

 well-kept forests which are harvested in rotation, protected by a scientific 

 network of roads, fire strips and natural barriers; and is divided up and 

 held under conservative management by the Federal Government, State, 

 municipality, corporation or individual. 



I have here touched only on the question of fire as a common interest 

 to the members of this Association, although many other problems are 

 receiving attention in our State, such as methods of taxation for growing 

 land, establishment of State nurseries and replanting, acquirement and con- 

 trol of State land, experimental stations and educational work of all kinds. 

 I present it here as a most pressing and immediate concern over the greater 

 portion of: your Provinces and a problem towards which you, as well as 

 ourselves, need to especially concentrate energy in seeking an adequate so- 

 lution. 



HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH FOREST FIRES. 

 H. W. WOODS, M.P.P., WELSFORD, N.B. 



I presume it is not necessary to say that the best way to deal with the 

 awful scourge forest fire is to prevent it starting. But in dealing with 

 questions of this kind, perhaps it may not be amiss to keep ever in mind 

 that old adage, "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure." 1 

 would therefore point out in as few words as possible some of the preven- 

 tives that seem to me to be necessary if we are ever going to keep our 

 forest in the healthy state that means so much to mankind. The destruc- 

 tive forest fires of the past have been caused in many ways, among which 

 may be specially mentioned sparks from railroad locomotives, fishing 

 parties, blueberry culture and farmers clearing their land. 



Railway companies have been great sinners in this particular, but, for- 

 tunately, man's necessity is a great teacher, and railway companies dis- 

 covered that a forest, once blighted by fire, soon ceased to be a money- 

 earner for them, and, it is pleasing to know that some companies at least, 

 are using their best thought to assist in saving what is left. 



New Brunswick is the land of babbling brooks and beautiful lakes, the 

 home of those speckled beauties, the pursuit of which gives to old and 

 young that knowledge of nature and outdoor life so beneficial to man, 

 and which can in no other way be so pleasurably procured. One cannot 

 imagine a man who is fond of this sport, guilty of so great a crime to his 



