Current Literature. 301 



The methods employed by the Forest Service of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture in aiding and advising tree 

 planters residing on the new irrigation projects in the West might 

 be followed to advantage in Canada. 



The Forest Service makes a study of the regions where tree plant- 

 ing is to be done, and when the lands are thrown open for settle- 

 ment the Forest Service is in a position to advise the owners just 

 when and how to plant to secure the best results; the species best 

 adapted for a given purpose and the care and cultivation a given 

 species will require to insure success. Circulars are published in 

 which detailed advice on the above subject is given. These are 

 distributed to all parties who are interested in tree planting in the 

 region to which the circular applies. 



A large part of the nursery stock distributed by the Forestry 

 branch of the Canadian Government is grown at the Government 

 Nursery at Indian Head, where 16 acres were under nursery at the 

 time the report was submitted. All nursery work will soon be 

 transferred to this section, and when fully equipped and all con- 

 templated improvements are made it should prove an excellent 

 station for nursery work. 



Thirteen thousand two-year-old Scotch pine seedlings were 

 planted on the Spruce Woods Timber Reserve. No mention is 

 made of the use of any native species. In undertaking experi- 

 mental reforestation work in reserves, the fullest success can hardly 

 be secured from planting only one species, and that a foreign one. 

 Scotch pine is a rapid grower and adapted to many conditions, but 

 the results secured from plantations in this country do not warrant 

 its use on a large scale until more is known of its action in large 

 plantations. White pine, although of slower growth in youth, will 

 usually overtake Scotch pine in 40 years, and from that time on it 

 grows at a more rapid rate and produces more valuable timber than 

 the former. It is to be hoped that other species, especially conifers, 

 will be planted experimentally on the reserves and given a full 

 trial. 



The report of the Crown Timber Agent deals chiefly with fires 

 which occurred during 1905. After discussing in a brief way the 

 cause of the various fires and damage resulting to the timber, he 

 concludes as follows: "The past season has been by far the driest 

 since the inauguration of the fire ranging system and in view of 

 these circumstances, I consider that the system has once more proven 



