FOREST NURSERY STATION, INDIAN HEAD, SASKATCHEWAN. 69 



sprung up. The plantations are established principally as wind- 

 breaks. Ample width will prevent the blowing away of leaves 

 and twigs, which thus decay where they fall, and yield a mulch 

 of humus which assists to retain moisture in the soil ; but a 

 narrow plantation is of little use, as it gives practically no shelter 

 during the winter months when it is most required. Planters 

 are advised to keep their plantations 30 to 50 yards away from 

 the buildings, the greater distance, or even more, being preferable. 



Snow is driven through the trees and becomes banked up on 

 the inner side; but if the plantation be far enough away, this 

 will not impede movement about the buildings ; and besides, 

 when the spring thaw comes, the yards and roadways will be 

 found dry and in good condition. Many of the earlier planters 

 neglected this precaution, with the result that during years 

 of heavy snowfall their buildings became buried, and they 

 suffered much inconvenience. The space between the plantation 

 and the buildings can be used for root-crops, alfalfa (lucerne), or 

 calf pasture. The accumulated snow adds considerably to the 

 soil-moisture of the plantation during the dry season. 



The trees suffer most in the spring during the alternate 

 thawing and freezing of the snow, which, on sinking, drags 

 down, breaks, or tears off their branches, and even their leading 

 shoots. In some cases, a snow-trap, formed by a double row 

 of willows, is placed at a distance of about two chains in 

 advance of the plantation ; this catches the snow, and much 

 reduces the damage done to the trees. 



As has been said above, shelter is the principal object ; but 

 when once this has been secured, planting for other objects 

 can be considered, and a farmer who wishes to raise a wood- 

 lot for firewood and fencing material, can be supplied with trees 

 and tree seeds for that purpose ; but he may be able to dispense 

 with seed assistance, for, at an early age, the maple bears seed, 

 which can be gathered and sown, while cuttings can be obtained 

 from the Cottonwood, the Russian poplar, and the willows. The 

 Government distribute as much seed as can be spared, each year, 

 and thus help on the good work materially ; but, in isolated 

 cases, farmers are now growing many of their own trees from seed, 

 and the farm nursery will, I fancy, become ah adjunct of many 

 prairie homes in the near future. 



The early plantations are beginning to show up, and are 

 becoming quite a feature of the landscape on the prairie. In 



