40 postclsia 



mation and perpetuation of forests, copious 

 rainfall and sufficiently high temperature, both 

 obtain on the west coast. The greatest density 

 is attained in the lower reaches of the river 

 valleys and along the lower slopes fronting the 

 sea. Towards the higher interior, the density 

 decreases. The same is also true of the low hills 

 around X'ictoria and from thence up the west 

 coast some 40-60 kilometers. In most places 

 of Renfrew district the forest stands yet in its 

 primeval grandeur, only here and there has the 

 woodsman's ax made imprints. The possibil- 

 ities of ravages by fire are well nigh precluded, 

 and the evidences of undisturl)ed growth through 

 long periods of time are everywhere apparent. 

 It is not an uncommon sight to find trees three 

 to five feet in diameter growing upon some fall- 

 en giant cedar of even greater dimensions, the 

 combined ages of the two undoubtedly encom- 

 passing many hundred years. A large number 

 of phenomena of this character observable in 

 these forests is to be ascribed to the great and 

 ever present amount of moisture and to the un- 

 iformity of temperature. Considering the for- 



