46 Canadian Forestry Journal. 



Tree Planting on the Prairies of Manitoba and the North-West 

 Territories of Canada; Norman M. Ross, B.S.A., Asst. Supt. 

 of Forestry. 



This is the first bulletin of a general nature issued by the 

 Dominion Forestry Branch. It was written with the idea of 

 affording practical information to the settler on the western 

 prairies, as to the best methods of propagating, planting and 

 managing hardy trees for shelter belts, windbreaks and planta- 

 tions. The information given is from the results of planting and 

 general nursery work, which has been found successful, and only 

 such trees are recommended for planting as have been proved 

 absolutely hardy under western conditions. 



The advantages of plantations of trees are mentioned as the 

 protection of crops and buildings, the holding of the snow, the 

 preservation of moisture, the supplying of fuel, fencing and 

 material for repairs, the beauty and comfort added to the 

 home, and as a general result, the increased value of the property. 

 The three main points to be observed in setting out a planta- 

 tion are (1) that the soil must be thoroughly prepared before 

 planting, (2) that only such varieties of trees should be used as 

 are known to be hardy in the district, and suited to grow in the 

 particular kind of soil, and in the situation where it is wished to 

 plant them, and (3) that a certain amount of cultivation of the 

 soil after planting is absolutely necessary. 



Detailed instructions are given under each of these heads, 

 followed by information as to the setting out of plantations, and 

 descriptions of different species of trees, with suggestions as to 

 their management. The bulletin is profusely illustrated, and is 

 a creditable beginning for the Dominion Forestry Branch in its 

 efforts to supply information to the public on forestry work. 



Cross-tie Forms and Rail Fastenings, with Special Reference to 

 Treated Timbers: Herman Von Schrenk, U. S. Bureau of 

 Forestry. 



The supply of railway ties is becoming a matter of absorbing 

 interest to the railway companies, and investigations of methods 

 for prolonging the life of such ties are, therefore, of practical 

 moment for, while substitutes for the wooden sleeper have been 

 and are being tried, the latter is still the main dependence of the 

 railways. The object of this bulletin is not, however, to con- 

 sider methods of preservative treatment of the wood, but forms 

 and fastenings, and it starts with a warning that chemical treat- 

 ment is not the only point to be considered in the life of a tie. 

 Such treatment, though it may be done so as to prevent decay 

 will not ensure woods of poor texture against physical deteriora-- 



