118 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



On this area Nature has been busy for a great many years storing up 

 what is to-day one of the greatest of the few extensive reserves of com- 

 mercial timber left in the world. It is estimated that this area contains 

 over 300 billion feet board measure of timber, comprising over half the 

 standing commercial timber of Canada. When the question of forest 

 planting is linked with such a resource, it becomes of interest, even 

 though the importance of planting to the perpetuity of the resource 

 yet remains, to be seen. So far, there has been no actual artificial 

 reforestation in British Columbia either by sowing or planting. The 

 subject must therefore be discussed from the standpoint of its potential, 

 rather than from that of its actual development. The only actual 

 tree planting in British Columbia has been in the line of horticulture, 

 landscape gardening or shelter belts. While such planting is altogether 

 different from forest planting, both in method and objects, some useful 

 information bearing on the subject may nevertheless be deduced from 

 its results. 



The chief limitations to artificial reforestation are those imposed 

 by Nature, those imposed by finance, and those imposed by policy. 

 It is convenient to discuss the subject according to the above stand- 

 points, under the following heads : 



1. Silvicultural Considerations 



2 . Financial Considerations 



3. Economic Considerations 



I. Silvttultural Considerations. — ^AU that a tree demands is suit- 

 able climate and soil. Give it plenty of light, warmth, air and moisture, 

 with enough soil to anchor its roots and supply it with the small amount 

 of mineral substance it needs, and it will grow and flourish. 



British Coltmibia has enormous quantities of the above-mentioned 

 necessities of life. Owing to a very favourable combination of soil 

 and climate, nowhere, at least in the temperate zone, do trees grow 

 more rapidly and persistently than on the Pacific slope of North 

 America ; nowhere is natural reproduction more prolific and vigorous, 

 as may be seen on hundreds of logged-over areas and old bums. In 

 fact, this very readiness of nature to imdertake the work renders 

 discussion almost superfluous. 



Experts, who have studied the question in the United States' 

 state that perfectly satisfactory natural reproduction can be assured 

 without much additional expense or modification of the existing logging 

 methods. For any species, the prime requisites are proper utilization, 

 with provision for a new crop by leaving seed trees or existing small 

 trees ; and protection by slash-burning and protective organization. 



