59 



To provide shelter and to add to the attractiveness of the Central 

 Experimental Farm, as well as to afford information as to the rate 

 of growth in the climate of Ottawa of the different sorts of useful 

 timber trees, large belts of young trees were years ago planted along 



An avenue of Manitoba maple at Brandon, Manitoba. 



the Western and Northern boundaries of the Farm. The trees are 

 in blocks of single species and in mixed plantations and embrace 

 about 23,000 specimens. 



The first planting was done in 1888. Measurements are taken 

 every year of the growth and height of certain average trees, and 

 tables showing these have been published from time to time in the 

 reports of the Horticulturist. 



}j : : Until the last few years the trees in the mixed plantations were 

 making the most satisfactory growth, and are still making better 

 growth than some of the trees in clumps of single species, but the 

 rapid growing kinds are developing so fast in the mixed belt that 

 they are overshading some of the more valuable trees, and those 

 that cannot endure shade are being killed. To some extent this 

 overshading is prevented by clearing the side branches and letting 

 in more light, and by heading back some of the trees of less value. 

 In nature the proper proportion of rapid and slow growing, shade- 

 enduring and light-needing trees is gradually adjusted as the trees 

 develop, but in artificial planting it is very difficult to arrange them 



