320 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 

grown large enough for all economical purposes, and instances a case in 
which, in ten vears’ time a farmer was able to supply his own fuel from 
the limbs and dead trees of his plantations, which would otherwise have 
gone to decay, 
747. It has been estimated that about one-third of the surface of a 
country should be in the state of forest to secure the greatest climatic 
advantage, and to yield a sufficient supply of wood for the various pur- 
poses of settlement and civilization. Such an estimate is necessarily 
only approximately correct, and there are various circumstances, differing 
in each locality, which tend to modify it, chief among which is the pre- 
sence of mineral fuel, and the neighbourhood of extensive and unbroken 
tracts of forest. If, however, it be reduced to one-fourth, to cover the 
case of the parts of the North-west more immediately suitable for settle- 
ment, it will still be apparent how far these fall short of the required 
proportion. In the territory of Dakota, the highest estimate places the 
timbered area at from 3 to 5 per cent of the-whole only. The proportion 
of timber in the Province of Manitoba, as at present constituted, is much 
greater, but is still too small; especially when it is taken into considera- 
tion that a great part of the woodland lies together in the eastern region, 
and is far removed from many of the districts best suited for agriculture. 
West of the 100th meridian, there are regions of greater size than this 
Province in which the tree-covered area is almost nothing. 
748. In Manitoba, and the North-west generally, then, on the first 
introduction of settlement and civilization, problems concerning the 
maintainence and planting of forests are found, which have not presented 
themselves till late in the history of most countries, and have then given 
rise not only to extensive enquiry and research, but to the inclusion of 
Forestry as a branch of the Civil Service, and the appointment of 
skilled superintendents and conservators. Though it has been clearly 
proven that there is an area of the Canadian North-west capable of 
immediate settlement, and sufficieut for some time to come; there are 
vast regions in which the evils of the absence of timber, and its attendant 
results, are too great for the settler to struggle against unaided. Con- 
sidering that the amelioration of the conditions in these regions must be 
a work of time, it cannot be too soon begun, and must proceed either as a | 
public work, or one encouraged and protected by the Government. 
Woods and belts of timber, already existing, should be protected and 
maintained ; areas formerly wooded, replanted; and the planting of wood- 
land de novo pushed forward in every suitable locality. It cannot be | 

