122 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



are dying. A deduction, therefore, of the suitability of the various 

 species for planting in British Columbia based simply on a comparison 

 of their present conditions in the shelter belt, would be manifestly 

 unfair to the intolerant species. The probability seems, that, if pro- 

 perly planted in proper mixture, nearly all the above species would 

 thrive. 



The following species seemed especially promising : 



The diameters (breast high) of these ranged from 6 in. to 14 in. 

 and the heights approximately from 30 to 60 ft. In form development, 

 the white pine, chestnut, and oak seemed best. A drawback to chest- 

 nut is the existence of chestnut blight which was reported from the 

 farm in 191 2. A Washington, D.C., expert who pronounced it blight 

 said it was the first reported from Canada (a rather doubtful honour 

 for British Colvimbia). Catalpa, walnut and all the pines except 

 white pine were particularly tmthrifty because of shading. 



The second plantation was made in the falls of 1893 and 1894 

 on the side of the hill referred to above. The soil is thinner and 

 rockier. The exposvire is south-west. A natural forest already ex- 

 isted, so the planting was done in vacant and cleared places here and 

 there. Both nuts and two-year-old trees were used, but no records 

 exist as to the comparative results obtained from the two methods ; 

 neither is it known how many were planted, nor where all the planting 

 was done, and time did not permit of any extended search. The follow- 

 ing were observed : 



Walnut 

 Hickory 



fup to 10 ft. high. 



Oak 



Chestnut 

 Yellow Birch 

 White Birch 



All appeared to be flourishing. 



up to 2 5 ft. high. 



