RESEARCH WORK OF THE DOMINION FOREST SERVICE. lOJ 



the necessity of developing metlnods of keeping on a permanent 

 basis the trade dependent on Canada's timber resources. The 

 beginning of 191 7, therefore, saw the commencement of a series 

 of investigations by the Commission of Conservation in the pulp 

 lands of Quebec, and in the following year the Dominion Forest 

 Service was able to make a start on the organisation of an 

 experiment station at Petawawa in the white-pine region of 

 Ontario, as a nucleus for the postponed permanent general 

 organisation for research. Meanwhile, the more progressive 

 pulp companies continued their experimental work, mainly in 

 the direction of planting. 



The following is a brief sketch of the work being undertaken 

 by the Dominion Forest Service, including work inaugurated by 

 the Commission of Conservation, and now being carried on by 

 the Dominion Forest Service. 



The research activities of the service fall into three groups, 

 and may conveniently be discussed under these three heads ; 

 (i) work on the pulp lands of the east; (2) in the white-pine 

 region of the east; and (3) on the Dominion Forest Reserves 

 in the west. 



The ultimate problem is the same in all three cases. How 

 shall we secure a continuous crop of desirable species? If by 

 cutting regulations, we must find a method ; if by planting, we 

 must examine the economic possibilities of planting. This, and 

 any decision as to the desirability of a species, involves a study 

 of the economic and silvicultural characteristics of the species 

 and a study of yield. 



I. Pulp Lands of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. 



As already indicated, the flow of capital for permanent 

 investment to the pulp and paper industry, and the building up 

 of communities dependent entirely on that industry for their 

 existence, showed the need for some consideration of future 

 timber supplies. 



The first investigations undertaken consisted of a survey of 

 cut-over lands on the Laurentide Company's holdings in Quebec. 

 It was apparent from the results of the first season's work that 

 the problem could not be solved by this method alooe, and in 

 19 18, the Commission of Conservation and the Laurentide 

 Company co-operated in the organisation of a permanent 

 experiment station at Lake Edward. This area is in the 



