^74 Canadian Record of Science. 



the attention of foreign purchasers to our woods and 

 pointing out to our lumbermen possible new markets for 

 timber products and for varieties of woods not now utilized. 

 That disease does sometimes cause great havoc among our 

 forests is illustrated by the recent fact that the spruces in 

 New Brunswick, the principal timber tree of that province, 

 died over extensive areas, a few years ago, and the disease 

 has now spread into the Gaspe peninsula. It is supposed to be 

 due to a fungus which attacks the roots, but it is not certain 

 that the fungus itself may not be induced by the pre-existence 

 of some other disease. In the Province of Quebec the larches 

 or tamaracs, have sometimes died from unexplained causes in 

 extensive tracts. As soon as coniferous trees have become 

 scorched by fire or show signs of failing vitality, their trunks 

 are attacked by boring beetles, and they must be immediately 

 cut down and immerted in water if the timber is to be saved. 

 In regard to the future supplies of timber which may be 

 available in Canada, the greater part of the white oak and 

 rock elm has been already exported. The cherry, black 

 walnut, red cedar, and hickory have likewise been practically 

 exhausted. Eed oak, basswood, white ash, white cedar, hem- 

 lock, butternut, hard maple, etc., as well as many inferior 

 woods, are still to be found in sufficient quantity for home 

 consumption. A considerable supply of yellow birch still 

 exists, and in some regions it is yet almost untouched. Until 

 recently there was an indistinct popular notion that the white 

 pine, our great timber tree, extended thoughout a vast area 

 in the northern parts of the Dominion, from which we might 

 draw a supply for almost all time. The author's map showed, 

 however, that its range was comparatively limited. The 

 shaded portions of the accompanying little map will serve 

 to give an idea of the extent of our pine lands, relatively 

 to that of the whole Dominion. Even if we include the 

 Douglas pine area of British Columbia, it will be seen to be 

 small in comparison with the rest of Canada. And it must be 

 observed that this shading represents the botanical and not 

 the commercial distribution of the pine, and that the valuable 

 timber has been already cut away or is very sparsely distri- 

 buted through a large proportion of it. Although it was 



