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" SUGAR MAPLE," or Ash Leaved Maple (Negundo aceroides) is found in 

 more or less abundance in all the river valleys, as far west as the 110th 

 meridian, and probably farther. When dry, it makes good firewood, but 

 the fact that it becomes very crooked with age, in the wild state, pre- 

 vents it from being of any value as a timber tree, even if it should attain 

 the dimensions of one. Indians frequently make sugar from its sap, but 

 the amount made is of little account, as groves of this tree are infrequent 

 in most localities. 



In the foregoing synopsis, all species peculiar to the plains have been 

 noticed, except Tamarac (Larix Americana) and Black Willow (Salix 

 nigra). The latter frequently becomes a tree in the river valleys, but is 

 scarce and of no value as wood, for it rots in the centre long before it 

 shows signs of decay on the outside. The Tamarac forms fine groves of 

 tall, straight trees in many parts, especially on the watersheds, and in. 

 basin-like depressions found in the northern forests. In the swamps the 

 trees are generally small, but on the drier margins and mixing with the 

 White Spruce on the hill sides or in river valleys are numerous fine trees 

 often forming groves of many acres in extent. Birch (Betvla papyracea} 

 is frequent in the north, and a very excellent syrup is made from its sap 

 by the Northern Indians in spring. 



Along the rivers flowing into Lake Winnipegoosis, on islands in that 

 Lake, on the Fairford River, and at Ebb and Flow Lake are fine groves 

 of spruce untouched, except by Mr. Pratt, who owns a saw mill atTotogon. 

 Enough Spruce grows in the neighborhood of these lakes to supply the 

 country to the south for many years. Were saw-mills erected at Lake 

 Francis, the southern end of Lake Manitoba, and a tramway built thence 

 to the C. P. R. less than eight miles a never failing source of supply to 

 the whole country would be opened up. Besides the above, very valuable 

 timber Spruce, Aspen, Tamarac and Balsam Poplar grows continuously 

 along the eastern face of the Riding and Duck Mountains. All this 

 timber can be drawn to the before mentioned lakes, and so reach a market 

 without difficulty. 



Rapid City, Minnedosa and Odanah will receive their supply from the 

 Riding Mountain by the Little Saskatchewan, while Birtle and the 

 adjoining country will obtain theirs from the same region, by means of 

 Bird Tail Creek, on which there is a saw mill at present Shell River 

 penetrates the Duck Mountain, and fine Spruce was floated down this 

 river and the Assiniboine to Brandon last fall, where it is now being sawn 

 into lumber for the use of settlers. On the head waters of the Assini- 

 boine, there are groves of groat extent in which, besides Spruce and 

 Tamarac, both species of Poplar attain a large size. 



My own observations and all the knowledge I could pick up from other 

 sources lead me to believe that valuable Spruce and Poplar forests are 

 found around every point of the Porcupine Mountain. I know that the 

 eastern and Northern sides are continuous Spruce forests, along the base 

 and far up the slopes. At the southern end I penetrated the hills, and 

 found fine Spruce in groves of very considerable size occupying the slopes 



