Current Literature. 707 



The lodgepole pine type, occupying an equal area, is confined 

 largely to the valley slopes of Swan Hills ; on the benches a large 

 admixture of black spruce occurs. The quality is indicated by 

 the statement "on over 95 per cent, of the area the pine will never 

 make tie size." 



The poplar type aggregates some 21 per cent, of the total area, 

 occupying the ground of a fire-destroyed original spruce forest. 

 Eighty per cent, of the stand is aspen and 15 per cent, balsam 

 poplar. One-half of the trees, at least, are useless, owing to the 

 attacks of Polyporus igniariiis, so that only seven cords of sound 

 pulpwood per acre are estimated. 



The plateau summits (20 per cent, of the area) carry a varying 

 mixture of lodgepole pine, balsam fir and black spruce, of a 

 stunted type valuable only as a protective covering. 



The other types occupy but small areas. On alluvial benches 

 are to be found stands of balsam poplar of large size. Stands of 

 scrubby northern white birch, and pure stands of young jack 

 pine averaging fifty years and eight inches diameter, occur locally. 

 The heights of land are largely muskeg, with stunted tamarack 

 and spruce, dotted with islands of boulder clay carrying open 

 stands of poor jack pine or lodgepole. The commercial white 

 spruce exists in small scattered patches which have escaped the 

 fires. 



The writer estimates for the whole area a stand of 2)Z million 

 cords of pulpwood, 4 million ties, and 350 million feet of timber. 

 One-seventh of the total land area has been burned over within 

 the last twenty-five years, and being largely muskeg country there 

 is little sign of good reproduction as yet. 



The report closes with recommendations for a proposed reserve, 

 outlines the fire ranger districts, and suggests needed trail im- 

 provements and extensions. The area is worthy of reservation, 

 if for no other reason than to prevent unguided settlement. 



J. H. W. 



Forest Products of Canada, igii: Tight and Slack Cooperage. 

 By R. G. Lewis and W. G. H. Boyce. Bulletin 31, Forestry 

 Branch. Ottawa, Canada. 1912. Pp. 13. 



1 

 Slack Cooperage. — In 191 1 there were manufactured in Canada 



102,787 thousand staves, valued at $710,717; 8,808 thousand sets 



