RESULTS OF THE SURVEY 13 



pine and seed trees — as compared with 60 to 80 in the original stand — 

 left to the acre. 



Occasionally, conditions are much better than this average would 

 indicate. In Cashel township, for instance, was found an area burned 

 over once, the fire disposing of the loggers' debris. On this area 280 

 trees of white and red pine were counted per acre, which would be 

 quite a satisfactory reproduction. Another stand in Cashel which 

 escaped fires after the first one of 75 years ago, and which, therefore, 

 may be called 70 years old, indicates what might result from protection. 

 Here, 360 trees to the acre were found, of which 280 were white and 

 red pine, averaging 6.7 inches in diameter (i inch in 10.4 years), 

 which may be estimated at 12,000 feet B.M. (175 feet per year). In 

 spite of such good showings, the average of 500 acres of sample areas 

 distributed over the entire area and carefully investigated by Dr. Howe, 

 gives the low figures just cited as averages. 



By means of these countings, it has, for the first time, been possible 

 to attempt, on a definite basis, and in a convincing manner, an ap- 

 proximate estimation of the fire loss by the destruction of the young 

 growth. With the most modest assumption of values, Dr. Howe comes 

 to the conclusion that, on this area of less than 1,000 square miles, over 

 12 miUion dollars worth of prospective stumpage dues and stumpage 

 values have been lost to the province, or $20 per acre. There seems tc 

 be no reason to doubt that twice that amount would be nearer the truth, 

 and, indeed, in many cases, the whole producing capital has been des- 

 troyed. Not less than 37,000 acres are reported as being barren, 

 owing to fires, and 150,000 acres as showing no reproduction of pine 

 or seed trees. As this is only a smaU sample area of the thousands of 

 square miles of sinular country, in similar condition, in other parts of 

 the province, a realization may be had of the enormous losses that have 

 resulted from lack of protection of young growth. 



Since, in the Trent watershed, on the average, 14,000 acres are 

 burned yearly, the annual loss by forest fires may be placed at $250,000. 

 For detail of such calculations Dr. Howe's report furnishes ample data. 

 Yet, in these same pineries, through natural processes of recuperation, 

 there are still prospective values of not less than $8,000,000 left in 

 yoimg pine and poplar, which it is certainly worth while to save by 

 more efficient protection against fire. 



It should be realized that the capital value of this 1,000,000 acres 

 of forest property, based on its productive capacity, would, under 

 proper management, represent not less than $50,000,000, and the 

 solution of the problem of securing such management would appear to 

 be worth while. 



