THE DOMINION OF CANADA. ]57 



forests on watersheds so as to conserve throughout the year the 

 equable and constant flow of the streams dependent thereon. 



That in view of the large expenditure made on irrigation 

 works in Southern Alberta, and the intimate relation of the 

 flow of the irrigation streams to the forests of the eastern 

 watershed of the Rocky Mountains, this Convention would 

 specially urge upon the Government of the Dominion the 

 necessity for the protection of the forests on this watershed. 



5. Whereas in the older settled districts of Canada condi- 

 tions are now such that great benefits would be derived by 

 the country as a whole from some systematic movement to 

 re-afforest large tracts of land which at present are lying 

 waste in the agricultural districts ; and 



"Whereas farmers as a rule have no expert knowledge as to 

 the cultivation of trees, and find it almost imj^ossible to 

 obtain nursery stock of forest trees at reasonable prices and 

 of good quality for planting purposes ; and 



Whereas the farmers of the country are, if properly 

 informed, the right class of people to undertake tree planting 

 in the agricultural districts ; and 



Whereas the scheme at present in operation in the West, 

 carried on under the Dominion Government, which provides 

 for the free distribution of forest tree seedlings and instruc- 

 tion as to their cultivation, has given satisfactory results : 



Therefore resolved that this Convention would urge the 

 Governments, both federal and provincial, to take steps to 

 encourage as far as possible, both by instruction and by 

 giving facilities for obtaining nursery stock suitable for 

 afforestation, a more general interest in tree planting, especi- 

 ally on such lands as are at present unfit for ordinary agri- 

 cultural purposes, and we would further urge the Dominion 

 Government to make, if possible, further efl'orts in this 

 direction in the prairie regions, where the results from tree 

 planting are bound to be of inestimable value to the whole 

 country. 



6. Resolved, that especially in view of the proposed 



