i«6 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMESTAL FARMS 



THEE GROWING IN THE NORTH-WEST^ FOR PROTECTION OF CROPS. 



There is one other buhject on which, with your permission, I will" say a few words, 

 that is concerning tree-planting on the North-west plains. The subject of providing 

 eome shelter in connection with the growing of such trees as these I have just been 

 speaking of is inip.jrtant. We find that where there is a little shelter all sorts of trees 

 grow and develop more rapidly than if they are exposed. 



Q. Tree-r'an1ii,g is another branch, is it not ; Mr. Stewart is at the head of it ? 



A. Mr. S:ew3;t is carrying on work in forestry in connection with the Interior 

 Department, but that does not interfere with the work we have been doing for ihe 

 last twelve years at th( experimental farms in encouraging the farmers to plant shelter 

 belts on their faims in the North-west. 



Q. And distributing trees to farmers ? 



A. Yes. During the last twelve years a million and a half of young trees have 

 been sent out to about 70,000 farmers in packages of 100 each through the mails. 



Q. That is a lot of them* 



A. They may not have gone to 70,000 different farmers — one man may have had 

 more than one package — but they have gone out in 70,000 packages. They have been 

 sent only on request, and instructions for the planting and care of the trees have been 

 forwarded with each package. There has been also supplied on request, during the 

 same time in bags of 1 pound each, 9 tons of tree seeds, 18,000 bags. 



Q. Where did you gather these ? 



A. Formerly these seeds were gathered in the coulees and river valleys in different 

 parts of the North-west, now most of them are gathered on the experimental farms. 

 Here is a picture of an Indian — a Nitchie they call them out there — gathering tree 

 seeds on the Indian Head farm. 



Q. You send them out from the western farms ? 



A. Yes, almost entirely. The young forest trees which are distributed are also 

 grown on the western farms. 



By Mr. Stephens: 



Q. Have you seen any of the results from the seeds you sent out ? 



A. One cannot visit any part of the North-west without seeing more or less 

 of the results from this distribution. There are very few farmers who have been in 

 the country any length of time who have not a tree plantation. They can get the 

 seeds through the mail free by asking for them. Last year there were sent from the 

 Indian Head farm nearly 1,000 of these packages, and a large number were also sent 

 from Brandon. The Indian Head distribution is to farmers in the Territories, and the 

 Brandon distribution is to farmers in Manitoba. A few are also sent out from the 

 Central farm. 



By Mr. Heyd: 



Q. What variety are you sending, anything special ? 



A. The seeds we send out are sent here from the western farms, they are chiefly 

 Manitoba maple, green ash and sometimes scrub oak, all native trees of that country. 

 This year we have had collected about three-quarters of a ton of green ash seed and 

 (ibout half a ton of Manitoba maple. 



The Indian Head farm, when it w.ts selected, was a piece of bare praii-ie, with not 

 a stick of timber or a shrub in sight. On tliat farm now there are about 130,000 trees. 

 Here are some views which liave been taken on that farm. (Views shown to the com- 

 mittee). This one shows the planting in the first year around the barns. You can see 

 how wind-swept these trees lock. We had difiiculty in establishing them. Here is a 

 picture of the same place taken this last year. There is the house and the barns em- 

 bowered in trees -of about ten or eleven years groM'th, 



