814 



Canadian Forestry Journal, November, 1916 



their assignment to the best use will be 

 the problem of the new era. 



A third economic problem will at the 

 same time find its solution: the re-es- 

 tablishment of a forest cover on hill- 

 sides and mountain slopes liable to ero- 

 sion and unstable water conditions ; for 

 the absolute forest lands, those which 

 are still fit for wood production, are 

 mostly located where also the influence 

 of forest cover on water flow and sta- 

 bility of soil is desired. 



The importance of the influence of 

 forest cover on cultural conditions has 

 been in controversy ever since such in- 

 fluence was discovered. Gen.eralizers 

 on both sides have ridden the argument 

 to the ground, when actually it can be 

 used only for given specific conditions^ 

 and localized environment. 



There is, however, enough experi- 

 ence in the world to assure us that the 

 retention of a forest cover on the 

 slopes is in most cases favorable to sta- 

 ble soil and water conditions. The 

 ideal civilized condition of a country 

 will from many points of view, and al- 

 ways, be an alternation of forest and 

 farm; even on the prairies this condi- 

 tion will be preferable to the open 

 country under the constant sweep of 

 winds. Here the climatic influence. of 



the forest will be appreciated in full 

 measure. 



Lastly, we may not forget and not 

 underrate the ethical influence which 

 the forest has had in the past, has in 

 the present, and will have in the fu- 

 ture. 



Who will question that the laborious 

 work of hewing farms out of the virgin 

 forest has bred a race of men of stur- ' 

 dier character, of more enterprise and 

 self-reliance than the nomadic life of 

 the plains and prairies could ever de- 

 velop ? 



More and more the chances of these 

 beneficial influences are reduced, as the 

 virgin woods give way to the axe and 

 fire. Much of the romantic wild- 

 woods life will be lost as the economic 

 principle is applied to the forest coyer- 

 Yet when the forester is in full action, 

 a new beauty, the beauty of orderliness 

 and usefulness, will attach to his plan- 

 tations and natural regenerations. Even 

 though his main aim will be an eco- 

 nomical one. he may satisfy it without 

 sacrificing the ethical one. At least 

 the forester will be in all ages cogni- 

 zant that the object of his care is an 

 important factor in civilization, be it 

 from the ecomonical, the environmen- 

 tal, the ethical point of view. 



