THE FOREST NURSERY STATION, SASKATCHEWAN. 69 



The ash, elm, and maple are raised from seed gathered in 

 Saskatchewan if possible to ensure the plants being thoroughly 

 hardy. 



The seed of the ash and maple is gathered in the fall. When 

 brought home it is rubbed through a wire screen to separate 

 it from the seed stalks. It is then spread on a table and hand- 

 picked, all foreign substances being removed by this operation. 

 It is then sacked and stored away till ready for use. The 

 seed is sown with an ordinary Massey Harris drill grain-sowing 

 machine, altered to suit for the time being. The seed is sown 

 in lines 30 inches apart ; this allows of horse cultivation during 

 the season. 



The elm seed is gathered in June and sown at once in the 

 same way as the two former kinds. 



The seedlings are divided into strips of about a chain wide by 

 Caragana hedges, which act as a snow-trap (for reasons see 

 conifers). The hedges also break the force of the wind, 

 thereby diminishing excessive evaporation. 



Most of the cottonwoods are shipped from the Western 

 States, being pulled up from the sand-bars of certain 

 rivers, where they grow in abundance. Procured thus they 

 are cheaper and better than cuttings. The plants are from 

 two to three years old and average 2 feet high. Willows are 

 grown from cuttings made in the ordinary way in spring. 



In the fall the young plants are lifted by another machine 

 drawn by two horses, tied up in bundles of twenty-five, heeled 

 in, covered up by the plough, and are then ready for spring 

 distribution ; by this method there is no delay when shipping 

 time comes round in spring. 



The best parts of the Nursery are being used for raising the 

 young plants for distribution. Other parts not so suitable 

 are being laid out in experimental plots to demonstrate the 

 best species to plant, the best mixtures, the cost, etc. 



The young plants are planted 4 feet by 4 feet to allow of 

 horse cultivation during the season. This cultivation is 

 necessary to keep down weeds, and is kept up till the trees 

 are able to shade the ground, which, if properly looked after, 

 they do in from three to four years. This constant stirring 

 of the soil also prevents loss of soil moisture. After the trees 

 shade the ground this cultivation is no longer necessary, as 

 the shade keeps down weeds. The lower branches die and 



