ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON A NORTHERN ONTARIO 



SAND PLAIN. 



By a. B. Connell. 



The following data have resulted from the field practice work 

 of the senior class in the Faculty of Forestry of the University 

 of Toronto. 



The investigations were carried out during the progress of the 

 camp at Frank's Bay, Lake Nipissing, Ontario, in the fall of 

 1912. They are interesting as forming, perhaps, the first sys- 

 tematic studies of the forest types of this region. Although at 

 present mainly of scientific interest, yet they possess considerable 

 practicable importance in connection with the future manage- 

 ment and value of such lands after logging. 



The physiography of the Nipissing region is typical of the old 

 Laurentian Plateau within which it lies. In general it is a low 

 rolling peneplain which has practically reached a base level. The 

 elevation is, on the average, 700 feet above sea level but occa- 

 sionally reaches 1,000 feet. 



The geology of this Archean formation is complicated. The 

 rocks are mainly metamorphic, both the igneous and sedimentary 

 types being represented- The most widespread form is a granitic 

 gneiss which is often cut by dykes of pegmatite. 



The soils are not residual but transported by glacial action. 

 The old soils were removed by the Keewatin and Labrador ice 

 sheets, both of which swept this district, and the present soils 

 were mainly laid down in the post-glacial lakes which formed 

 along the retreating face of the glaciers. The old beach lines of 

 Lake Algonquin and the Nipissing Great Lakes, which represent 

 a lower stage of the Algonquin waters, are evident near Frank's 

 Bay. 



The greater part of the country is covered by a thin sand 

 deepening in places to form Sand Plains of varying extent. Occa- 

 sional areas of heavy clays occur in the deeper depressions be- 

 tween the low rounded ridges and give rise to dense swamps. 



The climate is rather severe, late June frosts being reported 

 as occurring every year and July frosts once in five years. Fig- 



