FOREST PLANTING IN CANADA 129 



In the Prairie Provinces, the principal incentive to tree planting 

 has been the activity of the Forestry Branch, Department of the 

 Interior. The following statement regarding this work has been pre- 

 pared by Mr. R. H. Campbell, Director of Forestry. 



Work of the Dominion Forestry Branch 



Farm Planting. — Tree planting on the farms in the prairie districts 

 of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, was begun in the year 1901 

 when the use of a small piece of land at the Experimental Farm at Bran- 

 don and at the Experimental Farm at Indian Head was obtained, 

 and a distribution of 58,800 trees was made in that year. The number 

 of trees sent out each year has grown steadily, the distribution in 19 12 

 being 2 ,729,135, or a total of 2 1,650,660 for the years from 1901 to 1912 

 inclusive. The number of persons supplied with trees increased from 

 eleven in 1901 to 3,618 in 1912 . 



The trees are supplied for planting on farms for shelter belts and 

 woodlot purposes and are not supplied for planting for ornamental 

 purposes. 



The trees are supplied only after the applicant has signed an agree- 

 ment to care for the trees in accordance with the instructions of the 

 Department, these instructions being in regard to the handling of the 

 stock, the planting of it, and especially the proper cultivation of 

 the soil before planting and for two years after planting. 



The inspectors, who have had training in nursery work, are ap- 

 pointed to visit the farms of the applicants, advise them as to the loca- 

 tion and arrangement of their shelter belts and the species of trees 

 best suited to the conditions, and to report as to the trees which shoxild 

 be sent to the applicant if it is foimd that his land is in proper condition. 

 After the trees have been sent out the inspector again visits the land 

 to see that they have been properly planted and cultivated. As a re- 

 sidt of this careful inspection it has been found that the average of 

 success throughout the prairie country was from 85 to 90 per cent. 



Up to 191 1 only hardy and deciduous species of trees were dis- 

 tributed, the principal species being Manitoba maple, elm, ash, cotton- 

 wood, willow, and Russian poplar. In 191 1 a beginning was made in 

 the distribution of coniferous trees, a stock of such trees having been 

 worked up in the nursery. The species of coniferous trees distributed 

 were white spruce, Scotch pine and tamarack. 



The deciduous trees have been distributed free of cost, but for the 

 coniferous trees a charge of $1.00 per himdred is made, it being im- 



