To Ascertain the Distribution of Species in the Province

Coincident with the collection of records, provision is made for ascertaining the distribution of all species throughout the Province. Maps have been prepared dividing the Province into natural areas according to the watersheds. In this way nineteen river-basins have been marked off, and it is intended to ascertain the distribution of each plant in each river-basin, with a view to ascertaining the southern or northern limits of species. The Columbia river-basin has been subdivided into three, according to the rivers which drain each particular area in British Columbia. The Okanagan and Kootenay Rivers join the Columbia after they cross the Boundary.

For botanical survey-work the Province has thus been divided up into a number of natural areas, instead of selecting municipal, political, or other artificial boundaries. An effort was made to subdivide the Fraser river-basin, but owing to the variation of climatic and other conditions found within that area, it was considered impracticable without introducing some artificial method.

It will be of interest, in connection with this work, to observe the distribution of northern plants in the southern parts of the Province; many of these are found in the alpine regions and will naturally be confined to localities near the watersheds.

Provision has been made, besides giving the localities in which they are found, to indicate their frequency in each locality. The accompanying illustration will show how this is done. (Fig. 7.)