468 Forestry Quarterly. 



materials produced by the forests of Canada in 19C9 was thus 

 $889,894. 



A comparison with the hemlock lumber cut shows that western 

 hemlock bark is not utilized at all, and eastern hemlock bark only 

 to the extent of two-thirds. J. H. W. 



Report on Timber Conditions Along the Proposed Route of the 

 Hudson Bay Railway. By J. R. Dickson. Bulletin 17, Forestry 

 Branch. Ottawa, Canada. 191 1. Pp. 27. 



This report covers the territory from The Pas to Split Lake, 

 a distance of some 235 miles. The dbject of the inspection was 

 the estimation and location of areas of commercially valuable 

 timber that could be made use of in the construction of the rail- 

 way. Any such timber within eight miles of the line was classed 

 as available, and beyond that distance wherever waterways give 

 access ; timber under eight inches breast-high was conisdered not 

 merchantable. The method followed was to run lines back into 

 the country adjoining the route at three to six mile intervals ; field 

 glasses were carried and tall trees climbed at advantageous points. 



The report summarizes thus : "In the region we traversed, only 

 five species — spruce, poplar, tamarack, birch, and jackpine — have 

 any possible commercial value, and of these, speaking generally, 

 only the spruce is large enough for sawmill purposes or tie ma- 

 terial. 



"The poplar, birch and jackpine are invariably too short, 

 spindly, limby and crooked for any use save fuel or pulpwood, 

 and what mature tamarack there was is now standing dead from 

 insect attack. We did not find over 200 green tamarack above 10 

 inches in diameter all summer. Black spruce is easily the pre- 

 dominant species in all that region ; except on very occasional 

 well drained tracts where it reaches 10 to 14 inches breast high it 

 is a small spindly tree, only 4 to 8 inches diameter breast high at 

 maturity, useless even for second class ties. This is the condition 

 in which the jackpine also occurs. 



"The white spruce therefore is the only species large enough to 

 furnish construction timber, sawlogs or even railway ties, and 

 the supply is very limited. In the first place this species occurs 

 only on the best drained spots, and in the second, the fires of 

 the past 100 years have destroyed nearly all the old stand. 



