FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 36 1 



nursery stand the drought — the unusual one of the summer of 1899 — as we ^ as 

 the frosts of the region, making in their second year shoots of five to seven inches ; 

 three-year-old plants set out in the slashes appear among the weeds as born to 

 the manor. 



There will be croakers who predict failure in later life, but there is no warrant for 

 such predictions. Whatever experiences there may have been had in this country, 

 which might lead to such doubts, have not been had with trees planted under forest 

 conditions, and certainly not in this region. I have no hesitation in recommending 

 for quick results the use of this cheap and promising plant material, in combination 

 with the white pine, with which it makes a most desirable mixed stand, the white pine 

 growing somewhat more rapidly and needing the improving companionship of such 

 shadier neighbor. 



In addition, there has been used in larger numbers one of our native western 

 conifers, the Douglas spruce ( Pscudotsitga taxifolia) from Colorado, which appears 

 also most promising from its behavior during the first season, although not as rapid as 

 the Norway spruce. It is, unquestionably, the best material and the most adaptive 

 species which the western mountain regions afford. 



In somewhat smaller quantities, for trial, the Colorado white fir (Abies concolor), 

 the European and Siberian larch, and the Scotch pine have been used ; the latter, 

 cheapest material of all, set out on a sandy knoll, has made a most promising start in 

 spite of the dry season. 



Altogether some three hundred thousand plants have been set out on burned 

 slashes, and the opportunity for judging what is most satisfactory will soon be at 

 hand. The Axton nursery contains half a million seedlings, and a second nursery 

 at Wawbeek will produce double that quantity, ready for use in the woods in two or 

 three years' time. 



One of the essential requirements in this reclamation of waste lands is adequate 

 protection against fire. As I have pointed out, the greatest fire danger lies in these 

 very areas ; hence, special precautions to reduce the danger become necessary wher- 

 ever the expenditure for planting has been made. Greater vigilance and special fire- 

 guards will be required, and in addition, mechanical means can be employed to 

 reduce the danger. Among these are to take in hand, as far as possible, the entire, 

 burnt area at one time, clearing and burning the debris, so that the cleared and 

 planted area be bounded by standing timber or by water or marshy land ; subdividing 

 the area by ditches ; or, better still, by lanes sown to grass, which can be kept 

 in proper condition and serve as bases of defense in case of fire, so that the same 

 may be confined in area. Old snags, especially dead pines, must be downed, as they 

 are apt to be. set on fire by lightning. 



