366 Canadian Record of Science. 
“« the system of management of the Canadian forests is crude 
“in its provisions, and destitute of any policy tending to 
“secure the growth of new forests, it has one redeeming 
“ feature, as the title to the land itself remains vested in 
““the Government, and, after the expiration of the first 
“‘ temporary leases, under which the native timber is cut, 
“it will be available for any course of management that 
“ experience may suggest. This last consideration prepares 
“the way for any system of Forestry that the wants and 
“resources of the country may, in future, demand, and, 
“ even without a system, the natural growth of a new forest, 
“where the old one has been cut away, especially where 
“the spruce timber prevailed, is, in many places, bringing 
‘“‘ forward a supply for future use, although much less effec- 
“ tually than under proper care would be obtained.” 
Mr. Hough was right to assume that the forests of Canada 
belong to the Crown, as the proportion in private hands is 
comparatively insignificant. The Government holds them 
in trust for the people and is answerable for their good 
management. 
Tt is a good sign to find in the Dominion Statute Book, 
47 Vict., cap. 25, sect. 5, proof that the importance of pre- 
serving the forests on the Rocky Mountains is well under- 
stood. The Governor-General-in-Council is empowered to 
make provisions “‘ for the preservation of forest trees on the 
“crests and slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and for the 
“ proper maintenance, throughout the year, of the volume 
‘‘ of water in the rivers and streams which have their 
“ sources in such mountains.” 
In the absence of a regular system of Forestry, there are 
practical means of protecting our public forests which I 
will now review as briefly as possible. 
First, and most important.—A careful classification of 
Public Lands, under two heads : Lands fit for agriculture, 
which alone ought to be opened to settlement—lands unfit 
for agriculture, which ought to be carefully closed against 
settlement and kept in forest. The best timber lands, 
especially the pineries, are generally totally unfit for agricul- 
