44 



Mountains. On the Indian Head farm, trees have had the test of two winters and 

 three summers ; on the Bfaadon Farn. and at a few other points, including about 

 twenty stations on the Canadian Pacific Railwa}', we have the results of one winter 

 and two summers; while at a very large number of other points the summer drought 

 and heat is the only test the trees have yet been subject to. This latter, however, 

 is no mean test, for dry weather will often cause the death of more trees than will 

 the cold weather of winter. 



"The results of the te^ts on the experimental fai-ms have been carefully noted 



• each year, but the experience gained is too limited as yet to admit of very positive 



statements regarding many varieties of trees under trial. The following notes are 



submitted, with the hope that they may be of some interest to the American Forestry 



Association. 



"Box Elder, (^Negundo aceroides). — This tree promises tobe the most valuable of 

 all forest ti'ees for the western plains, adapting itself to all conditions of climate and 

 situation, and making thrifty growth under trying circumstances. No tree is so 

 universally successful ; but to get the best results the seedlings should be grown from 

 seed collected from trees growing on the rivei- banks and ravines in Manitoba or the 

 Territories. If grown from eastei'n seed the young trees are often partly winter- 

 killed. In three or four years from the time of sowing the seed this tree will usually 

 attain a height of from 5 to 7 feet, with a nice bushy head, and after that the growth 

 is quite rapid. 



"Among the trees which promise to rank next in value are the American elm 

 and green and white ash, when grown from Manitoba seed, but these often prove more 

 or less tender when grown from seed produced in Ontario or the western States. The 

 native poplars and some of the willows also make tine growth, and aid materially in the 

 formation of shelter belts ; some of the Russian poplars have also succeeded very 

 well, notably Populus Petrovska, certinensis, bertolinus and bolleana ; Salix laurifolia 

 is also valuable. The American mountain ash, Eui-opean mountain ash, yellow birch, 

 European white birch and the variety of white birch, known as the cut-leaved, have 

 also proved hardy, as far as they have been tried. Of the maples, the only ones 

 which have succeeded thus far are the silver-leaved Acer dasycarpum, and the Norway 

 maple, Acer platajioides, and these are only partially successful. The Siberian 

 maple, Acer gm?iala, has proven hardy at the Indian Head Farm, but this will rank 

 rather as a shrub than a tree. 



" Among the evergreens, the white spruce, transplanted from the sandy plains 

 near Carberry, Manitoba, or the spruce from the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains, 

 succeed best. The Scotch Qv and the European mountain pine are also hardy in 

 many places, enduring the low temperatures of the winter better than the drying 

 winds and hot weather of the summer months. The white spruce of the East, Nor- 

 way spruce, arbor vitae, Austrian pine, red cedar and European larches have failed 

 in most localities in the Territories, but many of them have survived and made a 

 little growth in some places in Manitoba. The same may be said of the basswood, 

 European ash and Russian mulberry. The attempts to grow the sugar and red 

 ma])les, sycamore, black locust, butternut, black walnut and western catalpa have 

 so far been unsuccessful. 



"Among the most valuable shrubs useful for ornamencal pui-poses and as under- 

 growth are the several native willows, the wolf willow, Eleagnus argentea, the native 

 wild cherry, Saskatoon and hazel, to which may be added the Siberian ))€a, Caragana 

 arborescens, Russian olive, Eleagnus, and the several varieties of lilac. The wild rose 

 also serves a similar purpose, and the Rosa rugosa from Japan, which has proved 

 hardy and valuable at Indian Head. 



By the free use of the trees and shrubs named effective shelter belts and forest 

 clumps can in a few years be produced on the North-West plains, which will help to 

 break the force of the winds and give a home-like beauty to the bare prairie. When 

 sufficient time has elapsed to allow of more extended testing many valuable addi- 

 tions will no doubt be made to the list now given." 



