Cl^e ConiferjS of Bancouter 31?^lanD 



Fred K. Butters 



One of the most natural phytogeographical 

 regions of North America is the great coniferous 

 forest which extends along the Pacific Ocean 

 from central California to Kadiak Island in the 

 Gulf of x^laska. The equable climate and heavy 

 rainfall of this region have developed here the 

 densest and most luxuriant forest to be found 

 outside of the tropics. 



To the east are continuous high mountain 

 ranges which seldom stand more than one hun- 

 dred and fifty miles from the sea, and are often 

 much nearer. East of the mountains semi-arid 

 conditions prevail except where other high moun- 

 tains cause a local increase in the precipitation, 

 as in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, 

 the ranges of northeastern Washington, northern 

 Idaho and western Montana, and the Sierra 

 Nevada of California. 



As Vancouver Island occupies a somewhat 

 central position in this great Pacific forest, and 

 as the climate and topography of this island is 



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