FARM CROPS OF CAXADl IX 1901 59 



tlie past year in planting trees on Sable Island in the AtlantLc. This island is about 

 80 miles from the Nova Scotia coast and 153 miles from Halifax. It is made up 

 largely of a series of sand-hills, formed of white sand, which are so blown about by the 

 wind that the configuration of the land is continually changing. Furthermore, the 

 west end of the island has been washed away with such rapidity that within the past 

 fifteen years the lighthouse at that end has had to be removed twice to prevent it 

 Irom being washed away by the sea, and the island which about 100 years ago was 

 nearly 40 miles long is now only 21 miles long. It is in the midst of a number of sand 

 banks and bars where wrecks are frequent. It is of the gi-eatest importance that this 

 island be preserved from destruction, and the Department of Marine and Fisheries, 

 under whose management this is, requested me some time ago to take the matter into 

 consideration and see if some method could be suggested whereby tree-planting might 

 be introduced there, and to endeavour to find out what varieties of trees were likely to 

 be suitable for this purpose. When I was in France in 1900 I visited a part of the 

 coast of Normandy, which was formerly covered with drifting sands, very similar 

 in character to these on Sable Island, where the French government have been doing 

 a good deal in the way of tree-planting and have completely fixed these blowing sands 

 by the planting of pines. 



Information was obtained and a selection of trees made, and in May last I went 

 to the island in company with the Deputy Minister of Marine and two other helpers, 

 and we took with us from Halifax 81,000 trees, which had been imported from France, 

 largely of the varieties used there for similar purposes. 



By Mr. Wilson: 



Q. Do they differ much from ours ? 



A. The particular pine they use there mostly is called the Pimis mnrilima or 

 Maritime pine. This is too tender to grow in this country, but on Sable Island, the 

 climate, although very windy, is much milder than on the main land. Since meteoro- 

 logical observations have been taken there for some years past, the lowest point the 

 temperature has fallen to is four above zero. We planted about 10,000 trees during the 

 week spent on the island and left the remainder with the superintendent and his men, 

 and he reports that they were all planted by the latter part of June. I have had three 

 letters from the superintendent during the season, and although the conditions there 

 have been very trying, .winds are very difficult, to contend with, the reports appear to 

 indicate that we are likely to be fairly successful. 



Q. What size were these trees ? 



A. From 8 or 10 inches to 2 feet high ; the last report I had was November .5. 

 The superintendent then reported a large proportion of the pines as living and promis- 

 ing. 



There are no regular mail communications with the island, and it is only when the 

 supply vessels go there that letters can be sent. It is an interesting experiment in 

 forestry which is worthy of mention. It also serves to show that the information we 

 have gained on this subject is found useful in many parts of the Dominion. 



By Mr. Richardson : 

 Q. What is the location of Sable Island ? 

 A." It is off the Cape Breton shore, about 80 miles from Liscomb Harbour. 



By Mr. Coclirane : 



Q. Would you recommend, from your observation of the timber belts on the 

 ordinary farms of the North-west, belts of any considerable extent, or of any particular 

 width for most farms ? 



A. Circumstances differ so much that I don't think it would be possible to lay down 

 any rule for such work. We have planted our principal belts at Indian Head, one 

 hundred feet wide, and extending the whole length of the western and northern bound- 



