96 CANADIAN F OSES THY ASSOCIATION. 



CREOSOTE. Creosote, as a rule, is obtained either from wood tar or 

 coal tar. Wood creosote is of a superior quality. It is in great demand 

 for treating fence posts, railway ties, and all wood that is to be exposed to 

 dampness or the weather. Creosote greatly lengthens the life of timbers 

 in such positions, and thus effects a great saving to the user, and at the 

 same time lessens the demand on the forest. 



CHARCOAL. When charring the wood of which the above is procured, 

 when the carbonization is performed in close vessels, the products may be 

 collected, and at the same time a large amount of charcoal obtained. This 

 is in demand for use in foundries, blacksmith shops, etc., and is also used 

 for domestic purposes and for medicine. 



FOREST PROTECTION IN RUSSIA. 



About thirty years ago Russia had the same problems in regard to 

 forest conservation that Canada now has. The problem there as here, was 

 to secure a permanent supply of timber, to protect the stream flow, and agri- 

 culture, to preserve game and to guard against fires. After several con- 

 ventions the following methods were adopted in the part of Russia with 

 which I am acquainted, and these are still in force: 



The Minister of Forestry, or Surveyor-General, appoints a chief ranger 

 in every county of his Province, and also forest guards. One guard is 

 appointed for every block of ten miles square, which square is divided by 

 survey lines into quarters. Each block is numbered, about each is dug a 

 ditch two feet wide and three feet deep, and the blocks are divided by good 

 roads. The duty of the chief ranger is to oversee the guards under him, 

 to report to the Surveyor-General the progress of the various operations 

 and the probable cut of each operator. The duty of the ranger is to look 

 after the cleanliness of his block, and particularly to see that the ditches are 

 kept cleared out. He is also expected to keep a supply of brooms, made of 

 spruce limbs, on hand, with which to combat fires when they start. 



The timber land of each county is cruised and estimated by the chief 

 and his guards, and reports made to the Surveyor-General as to how much 

 mature timber of each kind is on each block, and how much of undersized 

 or young timber. If the block contains only a small proportion of mature 

 timber, the Surveyor-General notes this on the map and by regulation for- 

 bids the cutting over of this block, or portion of a block for five, ten or 

 more years, according to the age of the timber. Lumbering operations 

 may be carried on for four months only in the year, namely, from August 

 1 5th to December I5th. In the case of oak, hemlock and birch the opera- 

 tion may begin earlier, so as to peel the bark in season; the first two for 

 tanning purposes and the last for manufacturing tar. 



The cutting down of trees by axe or saw is strictly forbidden. Trees 

 are to be uprooted and laid on the ground in such a manner as not to injure 

 any of the neighboring trees. I remember when it was first introduced that 

 there was much said about this rule. Lumbermen considered it much too 

 expensive. But after a little experience the work is done quickly by cutting 

 around the roots and throwing a line a little above a point half way up the 



