FORESTING IN THE CANADIAN W&ST. 349 
mates. Nevertheless, there was even here a notable absence of arid 
characteristics. Trees were not so abundant near by, yet far away 
southward could be seen the Wood Mountain and the Cypress Hills 
covered here and there with spruce and pine forests, which are said 
to be of considerable commercial importance. There is but little 
doubt that tree growing and even grain raising is quite possible 
even in this section, which is given up to cattle and sheep ranches, 
It has been a wet year through this section, the lakes are full to the 
brim, probably containing more water than they have within a gen- 
eration, and this condition of affairs we find all the way to Calgary. 
Between Medicine Hat and Calgary we noted that young trees were 
spontaneously coming up along the railroad, and we were told that 
thirty to sixty miles northward of us was the wet belt where the 
country becomes more or less timbered. From Calgary west to the 
Pacific Ocean the country at one time has been densely timbered, 
exeept in the valleys of southern British Columbia, the highest 
slopes even there being covered with splendid forests. It is needless 
and painful to refer to the enormous ravages made by the forest 
fires throughout this six hundred or seven hundred miles. Fires 
have ravaged from the lowest slopes to the very snow line. Whole 
sections of the mountainous country arecompletely denuded of trees. 
But the writer was pleased to note that fires do not appear to have 
made extensive ravages since his last trip through this country 
nine years ago, and itis an encouraging sight to see thousands of 
acres of young trees again covering the mountain sides. This 
favorable condition of affairs arises, he surmises, from the careful 
attention now being given to the prevention of fires by the Canadian 
government, with its very efficient mounted police organization. 
But taking all the damage from fire into consideration, still many 
millions of acres of the Rockies, the Selkirks, the Gold Range and 
the Cascade Range are covered with dense forests of deepest green. 
British Columbia is, in fact, nature’s timber storehouse. Itis a 
country of entrancing beauty with its vast mountains, its sublime 
lakes, its rushing rivers and its mild, moist climate. As we go from 
the higher levels of the Rockies and Selkirks to the less elevated 
Gold Range the forest and plant growth assumes a tropical luxuri- 
ance in appearance, vigor and density, and the same is repeated as 
we approach the moist, wonderfully forested Cascade Range. Brit- 
ish Columbia made the impression on the writer for being one of 
the most attractive regions it would be possible to conceive of. 
ROAD DUST AS AN INSECTICIDE.—For several years, I have used 
with good effect road dust against the striped cucumber beetles. I 
sweep the dust up in the track of the wheels and keep it on hand. 
Put about four quarts ina loose bag and shake the dust on the 
plants when they are dry, enough to cover the ground under them. 
This is also a sure remedy for the little black fleas. I seldom have 
to dust more than twice.—O. J, Farmer. 
