104 Forests and Trees 



and hold the moisture. Frequent cultivation the previous 

 summer is essential for this purpose. Stubble land is not 

 good for tree growing. The grain crop of the previous year 

 has taken out a great deal of moisture, and the ploughed- 

 down stubble is apt to leave cavities in the soil which 

 hasten its drying out the next year. Garden soil or land 

 on which a root crop has been raised is next best to summer 

 fallow. 



As the number of trees required for a plantation is large, 

 the only material which can be used, without making both 

 cost and labor too great, is seedlings or cuttings. These 

 may be easily raised by any farmer, and a small nursery 

 plot for the purpose would soon furnish all that is necessary. 

 A few trees of willow, cottonwood, balm of Gilead or 

 Russian poplar would furnish abundance of cuttings. 

 These could be started in the nursery plot and transplanted 

 to the plantation after the first or second year. In the 

 plantation, as in all other cases, it is best not to trust all 

 to a single species. 



In spite of the fact that a small nursery plot on the farm 

 would pay well both in material and satisfaction, few 

 farms have one^ In order that at least a limited supply 

 may be available to any farmer who will put his land in 

 proper condition, a nursery has been established by the 

 Forestry Branch at Indian Head. Material may be se- 

 cured from this source, but the purpose is to develop power 

 on the part of the farmers to help themselves, rather than 

 be a constant help to them. The following extract from 

 one of the reports will make this position plain. 



