SOIL CULTURE, CEREALS AXD FRUITS. 29 



Q. There is nothing like being neighbourly, you know? 



A. It would no doubt please your neighbour. 



Q. Would a belt on the south bo likely to benefit the crop ? 



Q. I think the benefit to the crop would come chiefly from trees on the northern 

 and westerly sides. 



The Chairman. — My experience is that with a belt along the south side of the 

 field you do not get the same crop for a distance from the belt as you do on the 

 other parts of the field, while if you have it on the north side you will get a better 

 crop. 



A. In bringing this subject before the committee at this time, my object is to 

 show what the experimental farms have been doing along this line of special work, 

 and that by persistent effort, in distributing young trees and tree seed, we have 

 done much to stimulate tree growing on the North-west plains. 



By Mr. Calvert : 



Q. How many years is it before you get the benefit of the trees? 



A. I have specimens of the trunks of young trees here fiom Indian Head 

 which will illustrate that. This is a specimen of the Russian poplar, nine years 

 from propagation by cutting, that probably is the most rapid growing tree we have 

 tested. 



By Mr. Wilson : 



Q. How large was this cutting when planted ? 



A. It was a small branch or twig probably about as thick as a lead pencil. 

 Another, a specimen of the Dakota cotton wood, has been produced from a cutting 

 in eight years. 



Q. What do you mean by a cutting ? 



A. A cutting is an ordinary twig or branch, eight to ten inches long, which is 

 buried in the soil up to the terminal bud. This sends out roots very soon, especially 

 if the ground is moist, and the young tree makes rapid growth. 



Q. Do you mean to say that it has produced this size from a cutting in nine 

 years ? 



A. Yes, sir. That is a very rapid growing tree. These samples are from trees 

 cut a foot from the surface, so as to have them uniform in diameter. 



Another sample I have here is one of tho Manitoba maple nine years from the 

 sowing of the seed. The height of this tree will probably have been about twelve to 

 fourteen feet. 



Q. Will this be a fair average or is it one of the best specimens ? 



A. That is one of the best specimens. I cannot say how far it would be an 

 average, but I think that the character of the growth would be very even except 

 where the trees were crowded. When cut from a plantation which has been set out 

 five feet apart, some will be found much larger than others, chiefly owing to less 

 crowding and greater advantages in the way of light and air. 



Q. Do these spring up from the roots like poplar? 



A. No, they do not sucker. This specimen is interesting because we know its 

 age from the seed, and it is to the growing of trees from seed that we expect the best 

 and most useful results. 



By Mr. Calvert : 



Q. How many years growth from seed are these trees ? 



A. Nine years. In order to 6how you that all varieties of trees do not grow as 

 rapidly as this one, I show you an American elm, eight years from transplanting as 

 a seedling a year old. This tree is a very slow grown. I alto have here a specimen 

 of the green ash, a native of the country, this is also of slow growth, but is very 

 tough and hard when grown. This shows the growth in eight years from the sowing 

 of the seed. 



