11 
made pulp. It is a very thirsty tree, and grows with its roots 
almost in water. It is confined to the river bottom lands, 
especially along the banks of all the large rivers, such as the 
Fraser, Skeena, Naas and Stickeen. It is especially abundant 
in the valley of the Skeena river. Cottonwood is not averse to 
a cold climate, but must have sufficient moisture. It occurs 
sparingly in the interior of British Columbia along river bot- 
toms and margins of some of the lakes. A few scattered trees 
occur on the banks of almost every stream in the Province. 
Cottonwood is not a long-lived tree. It grows very rapidly. 
Trees three feet in diameter are about ioo years old, and it 
reaches maturity in about 200 years. It seeds very readily, 
where there is any moist sand to grow upon. 
ASPEN (Populus tremuloides) 
This tree is very abundant in the northern interior of 
British Columbia. It rarely grows over a foot in diameter, 
and is usually six to ten inches in diameter. It is a good wood 
for making the better classes of paper pulp. A short-lived tree, 
reaching only about 50 years of age-^trees eight inches in ' 
diameter are about 30 years old. 
GRAND OR WHITE FIR (Abies grandis) 
This fir reaches sometimes a diameter of six feet and 250 
feet in height. Usually about four feet in diameter. It occurs 
along the coast, on the banks of most of the streams, especially 
on tidal flats. The wood is inclined to be rather soggy and 
knotty. It is generally a subordinate tree and does not cover 
any extensive area ; and may be considered only of moderate 
commercial value. 
WESTERN WHITE PINE (Pinus monticola) 
This is the finest pine tree that grows in British Columbia, 
but unfortunately does not cover any large area. It occurs 
very sparingly over most of Vancouver Island, and a few 
scattered groves have been noted on the mainland. It forms 
a beautiful straight, tall, round tree, free of limbs in the dense 
