Reforestation of Sand Lands 



I o 



Modern Forest Protection — Ranger of the Dominion Forestry Branch looking over 

 the country from a lookout tower. He will report conditions to headciuarters 

 by telephone, the station being located at the foot of the tower. 



The Reforestation of Sand Lands. 



Mr. R. F. Davy, Assistant Engineer, Dept. 

 of Public Works, Timiskaming, Que., writes: 

 'The reforestation of sanl lands is a timely 

 subject, and it naturally follows how best to 

 achieve this result. Questions will arise as 

 to which is the most suitable timber to 

 grow; whether to sow seed or plant sap- 

 lings; the cost per acre; amount of labor 

 required an<l proper season in which to do 

 the work. Again what benefits are to be 

 derived, also, will these benefits be imme- 

 diate or in the far distant future. Will the 

 reforestation of saml plain in the backward 

 counties of Ontario, for example, ever be of 

 benefit. 



' Those best informed know there are many 

 townships, and even counties, that are really 

 barren and unfit for habitation, and are 

 unable to support a population even in 

 poverty. Some will use the argument that 

 every tree planted will assist to maintain 



a more uniform flow in rivers than when 

 areas are devoid of tindjer. Even admitting 

 this argument, do we not see something 

 more tangil>le ahead of us. A child will in 

 90 per cent, of circumstances support itself 

 and he of assistance to the community at the 

 age of twenty-one ; a tree likewise planted 

 by seed or sap)ling will support itself and 

 likewise be proiluctive from twenty-one 

 years of growth. It will be of value com- 

 mercially speaking, and from the same area 

 an everlasting growth of timber can be 

 maintained, reaching a maximum value at 



the end of 100 years. More figuratively 

 speaking, an acre of small trees at the age 

 of, say 21 years, will be worth $1.5.00; at .% 

 years, .$7.J.OO; at m years, .$200.00; and at 

 100 years, .$1,000.00. 



' The above figures would vary with the 

 species of timber and the demand, and are 

 used only as an argument. To my mind this 

 work should not fall upon the individual 

 but upon the Govriiniifnt. ' 



