IP s t e I s ia 145 



Points concerning the local and general dis- 

 tribution of some of the other species will be con- 

 sidered in connection with the respective species. 



In general it can be said that the conifers of 

 Vancouver Island occupy at present the regions 

 which are best adapted climatically to the in- 

 dividual species, and this can often be shown by 

 a comparison of their local occurrence with their 

 general geographical range. While some species 

 may be slowly increasing their range, the whole 

 Pacific coast forest region appears to be in a 

 remarkable state of stability, and except where 

 it has been interfered with by man, there is very 

 little tendency for one species to replace another. 

 The result is that over very wide areas the forests 

 are practically identical in composition wherever 

 the same climatic conditions obtain. Even 

 where the forests have been burned or cleared 

 the land becomes rapidly reforested with the 

 same species wherever the burning or clearing 

 is not sufficiently thorough and widespread to 

 destroy the source of seed supply. 



In the following pages descriptions are given 

 of all the species of conifers known to occur in 



