There is a large surplus of low value black cottonwood and other hardwoods in British Columbia (B.C.). Greatly improved utilization and management are needed to make effective use of B.C. hardwoods. During the past decade, in their efforts to develop an economical supply of high quality veneer logs and pulpwood, West Tree Farms has encountered and solved many operational problems. After 11 years in the field, black cottonwoods and hybrid poplars planted in 1956 either as one-year-old rooted trees or rootless trees (sets) reached a size considered commercial in many parts of Canada. They averaged 8 inches in dbh and 70 feet in height in October, 1966. Growth and yield of black cottonwood are excellent but it is difficult to grow in nurseries and inferior in form and natural pruning when compared with ''robusta'' and similar hybrid poplars. Establishment of hybrid poplars requires either very expensive site preparation and many weedings and thinning or relatively economical strip clearing and planting of either large rooted trees or sets at wide spacings. The latter is preferable in B.C. Prospects for improvement of tree growth and wood quality are excellent but, like development of effective programs for preventing and controlling losses from disease, insects, and other pests, tree improvement requires much long-term research.