257 



or less torn up with violenco. There is an immense difference in the comparative cost of 

 the two processes, whiuli will tell upon the hundnids of trees required to make a sugary 

 worth working. Those small trees never fail (at all events, none of those we transplanted 

 did), while much larger trees, more injured in the moving from the forest, die in great 

 numbers, and the survivors are seriously checked. I have been told that the seedlings 

 would overtake them, but have not yet had time to verify that statement. Maples will 

 begin to yield a reasonable quantity of sap for sugar, when about twenty or twenty-five 

 years old. 



The Ash — It is well known, and its different varieties are found very useful, especially 

 the white ash, which recommends itself for its elasticity ; its wood is beautifully marked, 

 and is largely employed in the making of furniture, panels, etc. It will thrive where the 

 walnut, oak, and maple refuse to grow, or only linger miserably. I remember part of 

 a maple avenue, where, year after year, the maples had been replaced over and over and 

 failed ; at last, we had recourse to white and black ash ; none failed, and they are pro- 

 gressing most satisfactorily. 



Tamarack will grow in damp, wet ground ; we have succeeded with them where even 

 willows had failed ; the value of this timber and knees is too well known bo require any 

 comment from me. 



Russian Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) — In making new plantations, especially from seed, it 

 is no more trouble to try foreign than Canadian seed, and, however strange it may appear, 

 I find it easier to procure the seed of the Russian and the Himalaya than of the Canadian 

 pine. One may find among foreign trees valuable additions to our plantations ; such as, 

 I think, the Russian pine, native of the north of Russia. Our climate suits it admirably, 

 and it appears a more vigorous grower than our Canadian white pine. I cannot give 

 any opinion as to the quality of the timber, as they have only been sown in the spring of 

 1873. They started rather slowly, and their height and thickness are less than those of 

 the black walnuts sown two summers later, in November, 1874; but they are now be- 

 ginning to take more rapid strides. I measured the season's growth of one of them last 

 year, on the third day of July. It showed twenty-six inches in length, gained in about 

 thirty days, as the buds of the coniferai do not open much before the beginning of June ; 

 the year's growth was already over, and from that moment it only thickened and hardened 

 into wood. 



Since the growing season of our trees is so short, we ought to lose no time if we wish 

 to help them along, by thinning, removing useless branches, mellowing the ground, or 

 otherwise; all that ought to be done before June, so as to afford them every chance during 

 the growing month. I think the Abies Nobilis or Wiiite Fir of Washington Territory is 

 the fastest grower among the Coniferai. 



Poplar — I must Vjeg the indulgent reader to listen to my plea in favour of this tree 

 and not condemn it unheard. I speak of the kind known as Cotton Wood or Populua 

 Canadensis (not to be confounded with the Balsam Poplar and Aspen). Its growth is 

 wonderfully rapid ; twenty-three years ago, in November, 1858, I stuck in the ground 

 three cuttings ; it was my first trial at tree culture. They are now over sixty feet high, one 

 is twenty-five inches in diameter, the second twenty-four inches, and the third twenty-two 

 inches, an average of one inch a year in diameter. In every new plantation, in a country 

 completely denuded of forest trees, and especially in re-wooding our western prairie.s, I 

 would reconnnend at the start, a plentiful use of this poplar, without neglecting, of course, 

 more valuable trees. It strikes at once from cuttings, which can be procured and trans- 

 ported anywhere with the greatest ease. Thanks to its rapid growth, it will soon enliven 

 the scenery (as it is a handsome tree), afford shade, shelter the other trees in the plantation 

 and supply timber, not of the first quality, but better than none, until the slower growing 

 trees are ready with their more valuable contributions, and it can easily V)e cut down 

 when the room it occupies is wanted for better trees. This poplar has been introduced from 

 Canada into France, where it is designated as the *' Peuplier du Canada," and considered as 

 a useful and profitable tree, 



I must now close this long article. The results of my experiments are nothing to 

 boast of ; practical men would have done much better. If I had chosen the soil for the 

 different kinds of trees more judiciously, had not left them much too long without thinning 

 17 (F. G.) 



