ARBORICULTURE. 



Dr. Saunders' accomplishments in the encouragement of the 

 planting of trees and shrubs will live as a monument to his enthus- 

 iasm and fine taste in this important branch of work. When people 

 shall have forgotten the benefits he gave to the country in new wheats, 

 hardier fruits and the many valuable lessons on farm practices there 

 will still remain the individuals and plantations of trees and shrubs 

 that he has planted or distributed throughout the Dominion. In 

 the laying out of the Central Farm, sixty-five acres were set apart 

 for the testing of shrubs, trees and plants gathered from all parts 

 of the world. In this area, now become a beautiful park, there have 

 been tested under the personal supervision of the late Dr. Fletcher 

 and Mr. \V. T. Macoun and the general oversight of Dr. Saunders 

 more than 3,000 sorts. Of these, nearly 2,000 have proved hardy, 

 and for the information of visitors are plainly labelled. The infor- 

 mation learned regarding each variety has been carefully catalogued 

 and sent forth for the guidance of the people of Canada. 



Dr. Saunders' love of natural science for itself, his devotion 

 to the details of all branches of his work and his aesthetic tastes 

 have all combined to bring about most effective results in this work. 

 In the City of Ottawa, the extensive, beautiful driveways and parks 

 made by the Government Improvement Commission is a feature 

 of especial charm and to Dr. Saunders its chief beauty is largely due 

 as he personally selected the trees and shrubs and directed the actual 

 planting year by year. His familiarity with the habits of each and 

 every specimen growing on the arboretum gave him the knowledge 

 necessary for the selection of varieties which would survive and prove 

 most suitable as they developed, in each particular spot to be planted. 



TREE PLANTING ON THE PRAIRIES. 



Much valuable work in tree planting has been accomplished 

 in the Prairie Provinces. At each of the Branch Farms as at Ottawa, 

 a large number of species and varieties of trees have been tested and 

 from among them there has been found a greater number of sorts 

 hardy in the west than was expected. The information thus gained 

 has been put into bulletin form and placed at the disposal of settlers 

 and others who when commencing life in these treeless tracts are 

 eager to know what varieties may be safely set out for ornamental 

 and shelter purposes. 



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