WOOD CHEMISTRY 



A procedure has been established for simultaneously pulping 16 samples of 

 black spruce chips by the Sodium Bisulphite process, using a wood sample as small 

 as 5 grams. Other equipment is available to make small sheets of paper and to run 

 standard tests such as tensile, burst and tear strength. 



One of the defects in paper is caused by a fibre condition known as compres- 

 sion wood. The chemical section has pulped compression wood and non-compres- 

 sion wood samples taken from the same disc. The chemical differences of these 

 pulps and the quality of the paper they make have yet to be determined. 



FORESTRY ECONOMICS UNIT 



This unit is still in its formative stage, and has not as yet developed a formal- 

 ized research program. 



During the 1963 fiscal year some time was spent by the member of this unit 

 on a temporary project in the Port Arthur District. A portion of the winter season 

 was devoted to a detailed analysis of the Soviet paper bag market and the prepara- 

 tion of a report on this topic. 



In developing a program for this unit, the aim is towards a close co-operation 

 with established research projects where economic study is necessary and desirable. 

 Co-operative work of this nature may be initiated during the 1964 fiscal year in 

 conjunction with the Agricultural Reconstruction and Development Act (ARDA) 

 project in which this unit could participate actively. 



STATISTICS AND MENSURATION 



Assisting in the design, analysis and interpretation of experiments constituted 

 the major work of the section. The field of investigations included experiments with 

 nursery stock, studies in forest genetics, silvicultural experiments in the forest, wild 

 life investigations and analysis of lake waters with reference to fish habitats. 



Systematic Sampling in Cruising 



Objective: To determine the accuracy of systematic sampling and the precision 

 with which the probable accuracy of the results can be estimated. 



Data loaned by the U.S. Forest Service comprising a complete measurement 

 of all trees on an area of nine square miles were used to show the relationship 

 between estimated and actual stand volumes and the accuracy of the estimates 

 of error based on selected samples. A primary objective was to study a special 

 method of making such estimates of error devised by D. B. DeLury, Chairman of 

 the Department of Mathematics of the University of Toronto. 



Additional work requiring the use of similar techniques was carried on as 

 outlined below in the field of forest mensuration. 



Determination of Volume of Wood Cut 



Objective: To investigate possible alternative methods to the present method 

 of complete scaling of timber. 



The methods worked out in this project have been given practical application 

 for two seasons on a mechanized operation where there was no convenient oppor- 

 tunity for scaling in the ordinary way. A report describing the methods used in this 

 investigation is in preparation. 



257 



