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of the hilly or undulating country where I was, and forests crowning their 

 summits. 



Dr. Bell's assistant reached the top of the range at the head of Salt 

 Eiver, and reported spruce trees 42 inches in diameter. Dr. Smith, who 

 explored here in 1879, says : 



" Careful exploration of the country north of the Eeserve, for 12 miles, 

 revealed a magnificent district, land excellent and much large Poplar, 24 

 to 30 inches in diameter. This was the character of all the region from 

 the junction of Thunder Bay with Moody Eiver and far northward, 

 while southward, there was a stretch of rich but wet land extending to 

 Swan Eiver. Westward of the Eeserve, the country was heavily wooded 

 with very fine timber, Poplar, Spruce and Tamarac." The country 

 spoken of above was that to the north and west of Thunder Hill on 

 Swan Eiver. 



From a point, a little east of Fort a la Corne, and northwards, toward 

 Green Lake, valuable Spruce, Tamarac and Poplar forests, without a 

 break, extend westward to nearLaclaBiche. North-east of Carleton and 

 north of Prince Albert are fine forests which are easy of access at present 

 and on that account more valuable than those further north. 



Much fine Spruce exists in the valley of the Athabaska and on its 

 upper tributaries, but, without the aid of a railway, as the river flows to 

 the north it will be of little value for commercial purposes. 



Above Edmonton, on the Brazeau and all the upper tributaries of it 

 and the north Saskatchewan, are fine forests of Spruce, Tamarac and 

 Balsam Poplar. Here a large area will be found, well suited for lumber- 

 ing purposes, as it is protected from fire by numerous marshes, and up 

 to the present has remained in a primitive state. 



Eeturning to the south, we find wood of considerable value in many 

 parts of south-western Manitoba ; as much of this has fallen into private 

 hands, it will be well preserved and become invaluable in the course of a 

 few years. Oak and Poplar are the principal trees. On Little Cypress 

 Eiver, which flows into the Assiniboine, there is some Spruce. At Mil- 

 ford, on Cypress Eiver, a saw mill has been built, which is a great boon 

 to the settlers in the vicinity. 



On Turtle Mountain and Moose Mountain, Aspen and Balsam Poplar, 

 large enough to be sawn into boards, are to be found in considerable 

 quantity, and most probably some enterprising individual will start a 

 " city " by building a saw mill at one of those points. 



As I have remarked in another place, there is a large quantity of 

 " Cypre " (Pinus Contorta) between Fort Walsh and the western end of 

 the Cypress Hills, but more especially within the Assiniboine Eeserve, at 

 the " head of the Mountain." The trees are all tall and straight, but the 

 greater portion does not average above a foot in diameter, although 

 many may reach eighteen inches. With care, this tree could be made 

 available for many years for the stockmen and others coming into the 

 country. 



