70 WESTERN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



most rapid growing- tree in the Canadian Northwest, and 

 while in leaf is a very beautiful one. 



The Russian Poplars mentioned are two very hardy vari- 

 eties, fast growers and fine looking trees, when room is given 

 them for development. 



Box-elder is probably the most valuable of our fast grow- 

 ing- varieties, and is certainly the most commonly grown on 

 account of its adaptability to the climate and soil, easy germ- 

 ination, and the larg-e quantity of seed produced. Box-elder 

 is also a valuable tree for the purposes of protection. 



The Native Ash (Fraxinus Americana), Native Elm 

 (Ulmus Americana), and Native Birch (Betula Alba) are g-ood 

 trees for forest cultivation, but are not as suitable for hedg-es 

 or windbreaks as the varieties previously referred to. How- 

 ever, in all probability they will be found more valuable for 

 fuel or other useful purposes than either Box-elder, Poplar or 

 Cottonwood. 



Whether our plains can ever be covered with sufficient 

 forest to influence moisture is questionable, but there is no 

 doubt as to our ability to protect our farms from the winds 

 which are the cause of an immense amount of loss each year. 

 We can overcome droug-ht to a considerable extent by cultiva- 

 tion, but without protection from winds a great deal of the 

 good effects is lost. 



Windbreaks, to be effectual for fields or grain crops, 

 require to have height ; for buildings, height and compact- 

 ness ; for gardens, compactness, and for lawns, beauty. 



For fields, a mixture of Cottonwood and Box-elder makes 

 a good hedge ; the Cottonwood to attain height, and the 

 Box-elder to give bottom compactness. Box-elder alone gives 

 good results, but does not grow high enough to protect laige 

 fields. A single row is preferable to a number of rows, being 

 more easily cultivated, and taking less room, at the same 

 time answering the purpose in every respect. 



