The Forestry Branch of the Department of the Interior is carrying 

 out a number of different lines of investigation as follows: — 



Forest Surveys. 



Each year parties under charge of a forester and consisting mainly 

 of undergraduates of the School of Forestry are sent out to examine 

 lands which are timbered to obtain information in regard to the quan- 

 tity and quality of the timber and to ascertain what tracts are of non- 

 agricultural character. Seven parties were sent out last year. Much 

 interesting information is being obtained by these parties in regard to 

 the distribution of the different species of trees in the districts covered ; 

 the character of the forest and the conditions which affect tree growth. 

 The natural conditions are altitude, precipitation, drainage and soil 

 conditions. 



The effect of altitude is most markedly shown in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and in British Columbia. In the Rocky Mountains the Engle- 

 mann spruce, (Picea englemanni) , Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga mucronata) , 

 and lodgepole pine (Pinus murrayana), are found in the lower altitudes, 

 and as the altitude rises these are replaced by balsam fir (Abies lasio- 

 carpa) , limber pine (Pinus flexilis) , white bark pine (Pinus albicaulis) 

 and Lyall's larc'h (Larix Lyallii) . 



The amount of precipitation is an important factor in many dis- 

 tricts and the effects of a small precipitation is particularly marked in 

 districts like the dry belt of British Columbia where a scattered growth 

 of western yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) is the most marked character- 

 istic of the landscape. 



Drainage has the most important effect on the character of the 

 forest and this is well marked in the northern districts where there are 

 very large areas of muskeg. 



On the borders of the rivers and streams which are well drained 

 there are fringes of white spruce (Picea alba) generally of good size but 

 almost immediately when the bank of the river is left the muskeg con- 

 ditions begin and the growth thereon is black spruce (Picea mariana) 

 or in some cases tamarack (Larix americana). The growth of the trees 

 in these muskegs is very slow and the possibility of reproduction of tree 

 growth on them as a commercial venture is very poor. The growth is 

 slow on account of the covering of moss keeping the soil cold and also 

 on accounnt of the humic acids preventing the trees taking advantage 

 of the moisture which surrounds the roots. 



